by Paul Natsch & Tuncer Deniz This is the most comprehensive and informative release list for the Macintosh gaming community. Take the release dates with an ion of salt because they are VERY tentative! In fact, some of these titles may never see daylight. * means new to list Summary of titles Released in September • Absolute Zero (CD-ROM) - Domark • Burn Cycle (CD-ROM) - Philips Media Games • Dust (CD-ROM) - Cyberflix • Full Throttle (CD-ROM) - LucasArts • Voyeur (CD-ROM) - MacPlay • Wing Commander 3 (CD-ROM) - Origin Summary of titles Released in October • Crime Patrol (CD-ROM) - American Laser Games • The Eyes of Frankenstein's Monster (CD-ROM) - MacPlay • The Incredible Machine 3.0 -Sierra • Ishar 3, The Seven Gates of Infinity (CD-ROM) - ReadySoft • Johnny Mnemonic (CD-ROM) - Sony Imagesoft • Supreme Warrior (CD-ROM) - Digital Pictures (A fighting game similar to Mortal Combat) • Ultra 3D Pinball (CD-ROM) - Sierra • Warcraft (CD-ROM) - Blizzard Entertainment • You Don't Know Jack (CD-ROM) - Berkeley Systems Summary of titles Released in November • Alone in the Dark 3 - I-Motion • Al Unser Jr. Racing - Mindscape • Comanche: Maximum Overkill - NovaLogic • Curse of Dragor (CD-ROM) - Domark • The Dark Eye (CD-ROM) - Inscape • Day of the Tentacle (CD-ROM) - LucasArts • Descent (CD-ROM) - MacPlay • Dungeon Master 2 (CD-ROM) - MacPlay • Foul Play (CD-ROM) - The Armchair Travel Company • Havoc - Reality Bytes • Marathon 2 (CD-ROM) - Bungie • The Residents' Bad Day on the Midway (CD-ROM) - Inscape • Robinson's Requiem (CD-ROM) - Readysoft • Sam & Max Hit the Road (CD-ROM) - LucasArts • Shanghai: Great Moments (CD-ROM) - Activision • Total Distortion (CD-ROM) - Pop Rocket • Zoop - Viacom New Media Summary of titles Released in December • Entomorph (CD-ROM) - Strategic Simulations • Ice & Fire (CD-ROM) - GT Interactive • In the 1st Degree (CD-ROM) - Broderbund * Locus (CD-ROM) - GT Interactive * Mission: Firestorm - MegaCorp International • Rebel Assault 2 (CD-ROM) - LucasArts • SkyBorg: Into the Vortex (CD-ROM) - SkyBox International • Star Trek TNG: A Final Unity (CD-ROM) - Spectrum Holobyte • System Shock (CD-ROM) - Origin • Trophy Bass Fishing (CD-ROM) - Sierra • Ultimate Doom (CD-ROM) - Id Software First Quarter 1996 • Air Warrior 2 - Alliance (Will feature a stronger single player mode, support for more plane types and a vastly improved graphics model) • All-Star Baseball (CD-ROM) - Accolade • Baldies - Gametek (A Lemmings-like game in which the player commands an entire race of Baldies as they fight for control of multiple mini-worlds and more than 100 levels of gameplay. Features include multiplayer option, advanced enemy AI, and full motion clay animated cut scenes) • The Basement - Time Warner Interactive (A campy Doom-style 3D game which has players battling bugs in a B-grade horror movie) • Chessmaster 5000 - Mindscape (This next version adds “intelligent assistant” monitors to track players’ moves and provide feedback and advice) • The Classic 5 - MacPlay • Clue (CD-ROM) - Virgin Interactive • Cyberia (CD-ROM) - MacPlay • Darkseed 2 (CD-ROM & Floppy) - Cyberdreams (Picks up where the first Dark Seed left off, and will involve even more diabolical machinations by the aliens of the “Dark World”. Also will feature more digitized audio and animations, and most importantly to game enthusiasts, an expanded story and improved puzzle structure) • Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol (CD-ROM) - Inscape (a surrealistic social satire featuring a mix of live-action and animation. Created by DEVO founders Gerald V Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh, this fantastically demented adventure goes for interactivity what the legendary group did for music. It pits forces of good, The Smart Patrol, a young musically inclined group of Devolutionary rebels, against the mega-corporate forces of evil) • The Dig (CD-ROM) - LucasArts (A sci-fi adventure game base on a Steven Spielberg short story intended for the short-lived "Amazing Sories" television series) • Drug Wars (CD-ROM) - American Laser Games (An action/adventure game with full-motion video that involves hunting down international drug cartels) • Endorfun (CD-ROM) (Released)- Time Warner Interactive (A strategy/puzzle type game) • Entry Denied (CD-ROM) - Novell (In this adventure game, the player assumes the role of an investigative reporter searching out the truth behind a top-secret government installation in the Nevada desert, known as Area 51, which is rumored to house a wealth of hidden knowledge about UFOs and extraterrestrials) • Escape Velocity - Ambrosia Software (A huge shareware space game combining arcade action, strategy, adventure, and role-playing) • FLIGHT Unlimited - Looking Glass Technologies (An extremely realistic looking flight sim that is designed to help the user learn how to fly through 25 interactive lessons. After players get their feet wet, pilots can test their aerobatic skills in competitions where judges score aerobatic performances and award prize money to players. The money can then be used to customize their own planes. PowerMac only) * Full Tilt Pinball - Maxis • Galapagos - Anark (A 3-d, texture mapped action/puzzle game which incorporates artificial intelligence) • Heretic (CD-ROM) - Id Software (A Doom-like game in a medieval setting) • Horror Tour - Feoh-my, Inc. (An adventure game set in a medieval castle) • Icebreaker (CD-ROM) - Magnet Interactive • I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream (CD-ROM & Floppy) - Cyberdreams (Takes the player on a mind puzzling journey into the belly of a super computer where one must experience a bizarre and ever changing world. The player lives through the experiences of five different characters to defeat an all-powerful super computer who has destroyed all of humanity) • In Search of the Fabulous Fuzzbox (CD-ROM) - MacPlay (A Macromind Director comic-book like CD-ROM game) • Ipso Facto v1.0 - Playmaker • Knight's Chase - I-Motion (An adventure game) • Legend of Kyrandia 3 (CD-ROM) (Released) - Virgin Interactive • Lion (CD-ROM) - Sanctuary Woods (A sim that allows the player to experience life as a Lion) • The Lost Eden - Virgin Interactive • Mad Dog McCree 2 (CD-ROM) - American Laser Games (Live interactive shooting game set in the old west. Sequel to Mad Dog McCree) • Mega Rave - Velocity (An interactive rave party simulation game based on the underground dance party phenomena) • Mind Games - New World Computing • Missions of the Reliant II - Playmaker • Monopoly (CD-ROM) - Westwood (Will allow users to play by themselves or with other digital capitalists via the Internet. Features more than 800 animated sequences) • Mortimer and the Riddles of the Medallion (CD-ROM) - LucasArts (A fairy tale adventure for kids of all ages) • Mummy Trouble - Strata Interactive (An interactive adventure for children of all ages) * Odyssey: The Legend of Nemesis (Released) - MacSoft (A single-player rpg in the style of Ultima with detailed color graphics and rich stereo sound and music) • The Orion Conspiracy (CD-ROM) - Domark (A sci-fi adventure/rpg. PowerMac native) • Outpost (CD-ROM) (Released) - Sierra (Strategic space simulation) • Pax Imperia 2 - Blizzard Entertainment (A space strategy simulator that casts each player as the leader of a galactic empire on the verge of expansion. Will include a multi-player option that allows up to 16 human or computer opponents to compete) • Phantasmagoria (CD-ROM) - Sierra (The terryfying story of a woman fighting for her life against the forces of evil. Features an ultra-realistic 3-D rendered world in which characters have free movement. Will come on 7 CD-ROMs) • Primal Rage (CD-ROM) - Time Warner Interactive (A one or two-player fighting game with a distinct twist: You control dinosaurs instead of humans. They spit acid and fire, and do round house kicks, to name a few of their abilities) • Prisoner of Ice - I-Motion (An adventure game) • Psychic Detective (CD-ROM) - Electronic Arts (An interactive mystery) * Quarterback Attack (CD-ROM) - Digital Pictures • Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles (CD-ROM) (Released) - Simon & Schuster (A puzzle-orientated graphic adventure game based on Ray Bradbury's classic novels) • The Riddle of Master Lu (CD-ROM) (Released) - Sanctuary Woods (Adventure game based on the life of Robert Ripley. Features a multiple scenario storyline, puzzles, video animation and an original score) • Rivers of Dawn (CD-ROM) - Virgin Interactive (A multimedia RPG title that gives the player FULL control over full motion, 30fps, video characters. Rod Roddenberry, the late Gene Roddenberry's son, has been tapped to play the lead role in Rivers of Dawn. This game is also said to contain a high level of playability not found in other CD-ROM games. Acclaimed artist Pepe Moreno of Hell Cab fame will design the graphics for this game) • Savage Warriors - Mindscape/Atread (An action/adventure game with hyper-realistic animations, ultra-smooth real-time character movements, and different viewing perspectives) • Scavenger - Virgin Interactive • Screaming Metal (CD-ROM) - Reactor • Secrets of Luxor (CD-ROM) (Released) - Strata (A Myst-like adventure game) • Shadows of Cairn (CD-ROM) - Masque Publishing • Shivers (CD-ROM) - Sierra • SimIsle: Missions in the Rainforest - Maxis (Working with a team of specialists, each with varying expertise, players take up the challenges of cleaning up offshore oil-tanker leaks, opposing illegal drug traffickers, rebuilding after a devastating earthquake, creating a wildlife refuge, and more) • The Skins Game at Bighorn - MacPlay • Skullcracker (CD-ROM) - Cyberflix (An arcade horror title like no other) • Slammin' with Scottie Pippen (CD-ROM) - Digital Pictures (A basketball game with full-motion video) • Solitaire Deluxe - MacPlay (Enjoy 24 of the world's most exciting solitaire games all in one game package) • Sorcerer (CD-ROM) - Hopkins Technology, Inc. (A medieval fantasy adventure game on CD-ROM. It features full-screen, 3D 16-bit rendered graphics, a well-crafted plot and an original soundtrack by orchestral composer Eric Speier) • Star Trek, Deep Space Nine: Harbinger (CD-ROM) - Viacom New Media/Simon & Schuster • Star Trek Klingon (CD-ROM) - Simon & Schuster (An interactive simulation-adventure program that allows users to explore Klingon culture, lore and ritual. The software features full-motion interactive video with integrated voice recognition, allowing players to "talk" with on-screen characters) • Strategic Conquest 4.0 (Released) - Delta Tao (Update to the classic wargame. Two new units, new algorithms) • Tang Chi (CD-ROM) - Capcom (A Chinese puzzle game) • Transport Tycoon - Microprose (A fascinating business strategy game in which the player buys, builds, and controls transportation networks) • Tri-Tryst - Virgin Interactive • U-Boat 2 (Released) - Deadly Games • Under a Killing Moon (CD-ROM) - Access (A 4CD adventure game in which the player assumes the role of detective Tex Murphy in the year 2042. The game offers full-motion video and complete freedom of movement) * USS Ticonderoga (CD-ROM) - Mindscape (A naval warfare sim) • Wanderer I: Cult of Misery v1.0 - Playmaker • War Patrol - Alliance (A WWII submarine simulator. The initial BattleSet will be for the Allied Pacific campaign) • Waterworld - MacPlay (A strategic simulation based on the Kevin Costner movie of the same name) • Wing Commander 4 (CD-ROM) - Origin (The next installment in the space flight sim saga) • X-Wing (CD-ROM) (Released) - LucasArts (The epic Star Wars space flight simulator that is a huge hit on the PC side. Enhanced for the Mac. PowerMac native and 68k) 2nd Quarter * Alien Alliance (CD-ROM) - Virgin Games (A space flight sim in style of Wing Commander) * Aliens (CD-ROM) - Mindscape (A graphic adventure game based on the movie of the same name) * Angel Devoid (CD-ROM) - Mindscape (A graphic adventure game set in a futuristic cybergothic world with over 3.5 hours of top quality movie footage) • Atmosfear - Time Warner Interactive (A multiplayer game in which you collect magical keys on your way to the center of a mystical environment) • Bad Mojo (CD-ROM) - Pulse Entertainment (A unique graphic adventure game where the player assumes the role of a man transformed into a cockroach. The player must search for a way to get back to human form in environment rendered in stunning detail. From the creators of Iron Helix) * Battle Beast (CD-ROM) - 7th Level (A cartoon-like action fighting game) * Beat the House (CD-ROM) - MacPlay (A casino gambling simulation) • Berserker (CD-ROM) - Domark (The second title in Domark’s Sci-Sim line of space combat adventures) • Blackthorne (CD-ROM & Floppy) - MacPlay (An action game featuring advanced rotoscoped graphics, mind-twisting puzzles, hundreds of enemies and an arsenal of hi-tech weaponry) • Brain Dead 13 (CD-ROM) - ReadySoft (Players follow the cool tech-head Lance into the lab of Dr. Nero Neurosis. Once the computer is fixed, the Doc unleashes a host of grisly character upon Lance, who must battle his way out) * Chaos Control (CD-ROM) - I-Motion (A 3D action game where the player is transported to the future where you must battle a vicious extraterrestrial intelligence for control of the earth. You must liberate Manhattan from swarms of invading aliens, neutralize the core of an alien virtual reality computer and destroy the alien fleet) * Fox Hunt (CD-ROM) - Capcom (A spy thriller which contains over 3 hours of photo-realistic, full- motion video. The rich, flowing plot is structured along the lines of a motion picture. There are a variety of unique scenes to explore, clues to find and figure out, 20 action challenges, and 10 different endings) • Gabriel Knight 2 (CD-ROM) - Sierra (Sequel will use photorealistic graphics) • Heart of Darkness - Virgin Interactive (An action/adventure game which is being developed by the same team that produced Out of This World and Flashback) • Hellraiser (CD-ROM) - Magnet Interactive (An interactive CD-ROM game based on Clive Baker's Hellraiser movie series. The game will offer players "a horrifying cyber world of fast-paced chases, deadly traps, clever opponents and a catacomb maze." The disc will offer 30 hours of playing time) • The Hunters of Ralk (CD-ROM) - Cyberdreams (A RPG with an exciting new 3-D engine in an all new gaming universe from the mind of the acknowledged master in role-playing and fantasy invention, Gary Gygax, who is the legendary creator of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons) • Iron Assault - Virgin Interactive • Lords of Midnight (CD-ROM) - Domark (A huge RPG with with full animation on real-time, 3-D texture-mapped backgrounds. Control one character at a time, or up to four simultaneously. Fight entire wars from a first-person perspective on enormous fractally-generated landscapes in real time. Four methods of travel, including dragonback. Fully animated 3-D characters. Non-linear storyline. Advanced artificial intelligence to endow computer-controlled characters with life-like, independent decision-making abilities) * Maximum Surge (CD-ROM) - Digital Pictures (You're a trained mercenary, hunting down a dictator who's populating the world with androids. Variety of weapons, multiple levels, different scenarios and environments) • Panzers East - Arsenal Games (A WWII Eastern Front tactical wargame based on Arsenal's award-winning TacOps game featuring 256-color graphics, AI for both sides, and a more realistic terrain model) • Planetfall (CD-ROM) - Activision/Infocom (The sequel to the original best selling adventure game. Will feature live actors and an animated Floyd, the robot, against computer-rendered 3D backrounds) • Star Trek: Generations (CD-ROM) - Spectrum Holobyte (An adventure game based on the movie of the same name) • Tank Commander - Domark (Will feature spectacular texture mapping graphics as well as full motion video. Game features include the ability to control the gun turret, which rotates 360%, independent of the direction in which the tank is moving. A multi-player game which will allow players to hook up over serial link, modem link, and AppleTalk. The game will likely be a PowerMac only game) * Virtual Chess (CD-ROM) - I-Motion (Features a library of over 46,000 classic games and is a superb learning tool for beginners and a challenging opponent for game masters. The game has a multi-axis engine enabling you to zoom in and out and to rotate the board to any angle to view the pieces) * Wizardry GOLD (CD-ROM) - SirTech (A much enhanced version of the award-winning Crusaders of the Dark Savant, the excellent 3D rpg) 2nd Quarter-3rd Quarter • The 11th Hour (CD-ROM) - Virgin Games (Sequel to The 7th Guest. This two-CD game features over sixty minutes of live-action video, professional actors, movie-like plot twists, and stunning special effects) • African Adventure (CD-ROM) - SunStar (A sophisticated, interactive novel, using an exclusive AI engine. Your partner is murdered and one of six passengers aboard the steam cruiser is the culprit) • Beyond Squad Leader - Microsoft/Atomic (A computerized version of Advanced Squad Leader with outstanding graphics) • Congo (CD-ROM) - Viacom New Media (Adventure game based on the movie of the same name) * Cyberia 2 (CD-ROM) - Virgin Games (Sequel to the popular action game with a revolutionary new Combat Engine. Next generation motion capture technology. Challenging logic puzzles with multiple degrees of difficulty. Randomization of enemies for all action scenes means enhanced repeat playability. Over 1 gigabyte of action-adventure gaming) * Descent 2 (CD-ROM) - MacPlay (Sequel to the popular 3D texture-mapped action game) • Dynasty League Baseball - Design Depot (A highly detailed strategic baseball simulation) • Empire 2 - New World Computing • Heroes of Might & Magic (CD-ROM) - New World Computing • Kingdom: The Far Reaches (CD-ROM) - MacPlay (A Dragon's Lair type action game) • PlayMaker Baseball - PlayMaker (Will feature real major league teams, full league support, tons of stats, 3-d animation and much more) • Playmaker Basketball - Playmaker • Police Quest SWAT (CD-ROM) - Sierra (Unlike previous Police Quest games SWAT will include more than one scenario) • Space Quest 6 (CD-ROM) - Sierra (Features the latest in hi-res, 3D rendered graphics, full multimedia voice, sound and musical effects. Will offer gamers more gags, slapstick and parodies that any Space Quest thus far) * Spycraft (CD-ROM) - Activision (An adventure game where the player portrays a CIA operative) • Star Control 3 - Accolade • Star Trek: Judgement Rites - MacPlay (Sequel to Star Trek's 25th Anniversary) • Top Gun: Fire at Will! - Spectrum Holobyte (A flight sim based on the movie of the same name and designed with the casual flyer in mind) Further out in Time • Alone in the Dark 2 (CD-ROM) - MacPlay (Enhanced for CD-ROM and includes AitD 1) • Apache (CD-ROM) - Interactive Magic (A helicopter simulation) * Big Red Racing (CD-ROM) - Domark (A racing sim where the player has control over 12 funky racing vehicles, including backhoes, hovercraft, lunar buggies and jeeps. Choose from dirt, water, sci-fi, snow, quarry, city and desert environments. Features split screen, modem and network play. Complete MTV-style CD soundtrack and intro with original music by Hangnail) • IndyCar Racing 2- Papyrus (Hi-res graphics, better opponent AI, and other NASCAR features) • Kingdom O' Magic (CD-ROM) - Sales Curve Interactive (A graphic adventure game with an oddball sense of humor) • Troy Aikman NFL Football (CD-ROM & Floppy) - Tradewest/Williams Entertainment * Virtual Pool (CD-ROM) - MacPlay (Four great pool games played by professional rules: 8-ball, 9-ball, Straight Pool, Rotation, plus practice mode and trick shots. Realistic physics/geometry.Full simulation of all physical actions including friction, speed, collision, and roll. True computational ball tracking) * Blood & Magic (CD-ROM) - MacPlay (The first real time strategy game from Interplay's Advanced Dungeons & Dragons line. In the game, the player portrays a powerful Mage that can summon legendary figures from the Forgotten Realms world to aid in his conquests. The player must be aware and must contend with rivals that possess guile and wrath equal to his/her own) • Dark Streets (CD-ROM) - Cyberflix (An electronic film noire) • The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall (CD-ROM) - Bethesda Softworks (A single-character Ultima Underworld-style role playing game which uses a fast graphics engine that manipulates a true 3D environment. Sequel to the award-winning Elder Scrolls: Arena) • Ripper: A Cyberpunk Mystery (CD-ROM) - Take 2 Interactive (A sci-fi adventure game) • Faery Tale Adventure 2: Halls of the Dead (CD-ROM) - Trimark Interactive (A huge RPG which utilizes the Dreamers Guild's proprietary isometric tiling technology to create a dynamic Super-VGA simulation of a medieval fantasy world. The player is free to roam about this realm, interact with all sorts of original people and monsters, and experience many different adventures. The game allows each player the freedom to create his own story within the framework of the fantasy realm. Rather than being forced down one linear path, players will be able to seek out the parts of the Faery Tale universe which most appeal to them) • Flying Nightmares 2 - Domark (Players will be able to control two of the military’s most feared attack vehicles: the Harrier “Jump Jet” and the Cobra Attack Helicopter. PowerMac only) And Beyond • Blade Runner (CD-ROM) - Virgin Interactive (Players will be able to enter into a richly detailed environment set in the year 2019 to follow the adventures of a licensed-to-kill policeman hired to track down and destroy a group of intelligent robots who have hijacked a space shuttle and returned to earth. Based on the classic movie of the same name) * Command and Conquer (CD-ROM) - Westwood (A real-time strategic warfare sim) • Confirmed Kill - Domark (A World War II flight simulation that allows up to 500 people to participate in furious dog-fighting action on the Internet) • MechWarrior 2 (CD-ROM) - Activision (Based on the popular FASA Battletech universe, MechWarrior 2 combines sophisticated simulation gameplay with vivid 3D graphics thrusting the player into an explosive world of sight, sound, and actioh) • Mortal Combat 3 - MacPlay • NASCAR Racing - Papyrus • NBA Jam: Tournament Edition - MacPlay * Pacific Tide: The Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire (CD-ROM) - Arsenal Publishing (A strategic and operational-level simulation of the Pacific Theater of Operations from 1941 to 1945 during World War II, beginning on December 7, 1941 right after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The player will have total control of air, ground, and naval operations within a richly detailed model of the actual geo-political environment which faced U.S. and Japanese commanders over 50 years ago) • Star Trek: Starfleet Academy - MacPlay • Stonekeep (CD-ROM) - MacPlay (A huge 3D RPG) • Titanic (CD-ROM) - Cyberflix (Adventure game that takes place on the Titanic on the same day of its tragic sinking. The game will feature an exact "virtual" reproduction of the real Titanic. Players will be able to walk through and explore every single room, cabin, and deck of this "virtual" Titanic while trying to prevent one of the worst disasters in history) • USCF Chess - MacPlay • Zone Raiders - Virgin Interactive (A fast-paced, real-time driving a combat game that takes place in a 3-D, texture graphics environment. Features network and modem capability) Keep in mind that if you're in the industry or "in-the-know" about certain upcoming releases, YOU can contribute GREATLY to this listing. Please Email me at the addresses below if you have additional information that you see may be useful to this list. I'm basically looking for HARD FACTs or GOOD rumor. (Corrections also appreciated) Paul Natsch America On-Line - PaulN24 Prodigy - JBFM05A Internet - pauln@gate.net