Friday, September 19
sorry for the late news, I was very busy today

From Yesterday: Update on Maverick Projects:
Shadow Warrior
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
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

Insignia ships it's newest emulator, RealPC:
RealPC features a completely redesigned interface, making it extremely easy to use. Insignia's EasyLaunch feature lets you double click on DOS programs to launch them. RealPC is now avaiable in retail stores and from catalogs. Japanese, French and German versions are expected be available within 6 weeks. RealPC has an estimated street price of $79 and includes 15 3D Action games. For more information, call (800) 848 7677 or visit Insignia's RealPC web page.

source: MGL

Starbound II preview 6 released
Catfish Software tells us that Starbound II preview 6 has been released. Starbound II is their forthcoming galactic empire-building game. With each progressive preview release, Catfish has added features and improved stability. Starbound II is shaping up to be quite an impressive effort for this shareware developer.

Postal almost ready for prime time?
A Tikkabik reader has gotten confirmation from Ripcord Games that Postal will ship on September 29th. Postal is a new ultraviolent action game that features:

• A mature theme about a character who goes postal when he uncovers a sick and twisted conspiracy that drives him to defend humanity from pure evilŠ.or is it something elseŠ
• Outrageous 2D painted backgrounds. No tile-based art, no repeated art. 100% unique background art throughout each mission.
• Real-time 3D characters, weapons and objects, with real-time lighting effects.
• X-RAY effect lets you see through buildings.
• Pyrotechnic effects, including translucent explosions, flames, and napalm.
• Multi-player network support (Internet, LAN, Modem-to-Modem)
• Intense soundtrack based on realistic sound effects and ambient sounds.

Fallout due soon
With a number of high-profile product cancellations over the past year, MacPlay hasn't had the favor of Mac gamers lately. Still, it looks like there's finally some good news to report from MacPlay. There's no official confirmation, but our sources tell us that Fallout will be available very soon- hopefully within the next few weeks. Fallout is an RPG game set in a post-apocalpytic future.

Ambrosia Software offers unique way to track its upcoming game release:
Ambrosia has launched a campaign to inform you of the imminency of Harry the Handsome Executive's release. They call it the Harry Release Clock. The icon represents just how close Harry is to release (i.e. downloading).

source MGL

ParSoft updates web site, includes MESA info:
Parsoft's next flight sim, Fighter Squadron: The Screamin' Demons over Europe is expected to offer incredible realism of WW2 air combat. They have just released new screenshots of the game and have updated their web site overall. In Screamin' Demons, players fly combat missions as American, British or German pilots in conflicts taking place over the English Channel, the Germany, and North Africa. Features of the new graphics engine include high-resolution texture mapping and Ground shading. Screamin' Demons directly supports a wide range of 3D cards to deliver expanded visual detail but the game's 3D look and feel is also emulated in software for awesome performance on unaccelerated systems. Visit Parsoft's Screamin' Demons web page for more.

Parsoft is also hosting MESA's (MacOS Entertainment Software Alliance) web page which offers a mission statement and the latest press release.

source MGL

Quake Performance page:
Matt Haffner has set up a web page that offers performance statistics on various Mac systems and hardware when playing Quake for Mac. With a collection of Quake FPS (frames per second) rates and standarized instructions for comparing machines and reporting the results, this web site should help all those interested in such things! Right now, the site only has a some 3dfx and RAVE numbers, but the MGL was told there are more results coming in.

source MGL

Riven: The Sequel to Myst due in stores by October 31st:
As the MGL reported late yesterday, a press release recently issued by Red Orb Entertainment (gaming division of Broderbund) stated that Riven is expected to be available in stores October 31, 1997. The title will be available (in a PowerPC Mac only version, as well as in the Wintel platform) at both domestic and international retail outlets. System requirements are:

• System 7.5 or higher
• 90MHz PowerPC or faster
• 9 MB RAM free minimum RAM
• 65 MB hard disk space
• 4X CD-ROM drive or faster
• 640x480 display, thousands of colors

There will also be a console version of Riven released on Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn.

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Deadlock comes out this Friday
Tikkibik has gotten confirmation from Accolade that the Mac version of Deadlock, their enormously successful galactic empire building game, is ready for prime time. Accolade plans to start shipping the title on Friday.

Deadlock is an entertaining mix of Civilization II and Warcraft.

source Tikkabik

Quest for Glory 5 demo for Mac, too
A few days ago we brought you news that Sierra's forthcoming adventure game, Quest for Glory 5, would have a playable demo out sometime in October. Since then, we've gotten confirmation from Sierra On-Line that the demo will be available for Mac gamers, as well!

source Tikkabik

MacSoft releases Master of Orion II
Confirming rumors suggested by postings to Usenet newsgroups, MacSoft confirmed with Tikkabik that Master of Orion II is shipping. Master of Orion II is a galactic empire-building game. It's also the second Microprose title to be released under the MacSoft marque. Some folks may have found the title on store shelves this past weekend, and it should definitely be available in greater quantity this week. Here's what MacSoft has to say about the game:

Forge an empire to span a universe. Colonize unknown planets and trade with other races for their knowledge. Conquer alien star systems to secure the resources that will guarantee your supremacy. Only then will you be able to defeat the evil Antarans, who lurk in the coldest reaches of space, warmed by one all-consuming passion...REVENGE!

• 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 mode, 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.

source Tikkabik

* * *

Tikkabik releases Mark Adams interview
Tikkabik continues its interview feature with an in-depth conversation with Macintosh game programmer extraordinaire, Mark Adams. Adams is the man behind Duke Nukem 3D, one of the best-selling Mac game titles of 1997. He's hard at work on Shadow Warrior and Unreal, and has some comments about Mac gaming, the industry itself in light of recent news events, and a little bit about himself and his background.

source Tikkabik

Insignia Solutions ships RealPC
Insignia Solutions, makers of SoftWindows and SoftPC, has announced the release of RealPC, its $79 DOS-based Pentium MMX emulator. RealPC is a direct shot across the bow of Connectix Corporation and their $149 VirtualPC, which ships in DOS, Windows 3.1, and Windows 95 flavors. RealPC ships with full SoundBlaster DOS support and comes on a CD-ROM with a number of A-list DOS games from the days of yore, like Descent and the original Doom.

source Tikkabik

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