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There Will Be No News Update July 28th because it is my Birthday.

MACSOFT REVIVES APPLE GAMING CLASSIC 'LODE RUNNER' WITH THE RELEASE OF 'LODE RUNNER 2' FOR THE MAC
MINNEAPOLIS, July 23, 1998 - MacSoft is bringing back a legend to the Apple platform with GT Interactive's Lode Runner 2 for the Mac. Originally released in 1983 on the Apple II platform, Lode Runner has since sold more than two million units worldwide and become one of the most popular video games in history. Developed by Presage Software in consultation with Doug Smith, the game's original creator, Lode Runner 2 features five immersive 3-D worlds, more than 160 new levels and a complete level editor/builder.

"Bringing this game back to the Mac is a wonderful opportunity for us and for Mac gamers," said Cindy Swanson, marketing manager for MacSoft. "With the addition of 3-D technology, multi-player functionality, and a user-supported level editor to the highly addictive puzzle-action style of game play, we hope to extend further the reach of this gaming classic."

As either a male or female Lode Runner, players must travel through isometric 3-D game worlds collecting gold, solving puzzles and evading evil creatures. A keen sense of timing, resourcefulness and pure logic all combine to make Lode Runner 2 a completely unique gaming experience. Dynamic artificial intelligence allows enemies to react and move according to players' movements, allowing for unlimited replayability. In addition to its single-player mode, Lode Runner 2 supports multi-play for up to eight players simultaneously.

Lavish worlds including "Industrial," "Jungle," "Gear," "Mona" and "Wacky" are being designed to challenge players of any skill level, and to maintain the nerve-wracking game play that originally established Lode Runner as the benchmark in gaming. Each of the 75 levels includes a scrolling six directions of freedom, allowing the player movement in any direction (NW, SW, SE, NE, up and down).

Lode Runner 2 is scheduled for a Sept. 15 release on the Macintosh at a suggested retail price of $29.99.

J. Driver's DukeNukem TC Update
My Duke Nukem 3D TC project is nearly complete. I should have mentioned this before, but if you want email updates of the TC project (when it is done), go here: http://jdriver.simplenet.com/mailinglists.html. Sign up for the Duke Nukem 3D mailing list (you are free to sign up for the other lists of course. The TC's will most likely be released next week.

Deer Hunter Demo
You might have heard rumours going around that a Deer Hunter Mac demo ahs been released, well it hasn't, because there isn't one. MacSoft has no plans to produce a Deer Hunter demo because any demo they make would be like giving the game away as the simple nature of the game makes aany demo impractical.

Peter Tamte Leaves MacSoft for Apple
As some have already noticed, Peter Tamte has left MacSoft to join Apple as Senior Director of Consumer Marketing. While we are sad to see Peter go, we wish him the best, and we know that in the long term this is the best move for us and all Mac users and developers everywhere. Peter is an extremely talented and dedicated individual, and his appointment to Apple ensures that consumers will be best served by Apple's current and future developments.

Day-to-day operations will be taken over by Al Schilling and Cindy Swanson, Peter's Right- and Left-hand people here at MacSoft, with uper-level operations being handled by Paul Rinde, Senior Vice President for Product Development here at GTInteractive in Minneapolis. Brian Nesse and I will be here as usual, letting you know all about our product line and future plans.

MacSoft has an exciting lineup planned for the next year and a half, with more products under consideration for the future. We remain dedicated to the greatest computer platform ever, and we are very excited about the opportunities in store for our future. We thank you, as always, for your continued support and interest in our products, and we intend to be around for a very long time, even longer now that Apple has firmly committed to the consumer and games market by adding Peter's considerable talents to their arsenal!

I know this sounds kinda corporate, but I mean every word.

--
Nate Birkholz
MacSoft

Falcon 4 for Mac Update
Falcon 4.0 Mac is coming along, we deliverable a first playable milestone to MacSoft before MacWorld and are working on user interface and networking code. A project of this size is certainly a big undertaking, but its beginning to take shape and we're working to make Falcon the premier Macintosh flight combat simulator.

Unreal Mac Update
Beta 5 of Unreal went out to testers today, and we're getting closer and closer to final. A few more bug fixes and some optimizations to go. Response at MacWorld was great, and Unreal looked particularly impressive on the MicroConversions VooDoo2 cards. We're still hoping to get any patches that come out for the PC integrated into the Mac before we ship.

Tomb Raider II Progress Update
Work is progressing quickly on Tomb Raider II, we're delivering the first playable version to Aspyr Media this week. The game is coming along great, and it looks quite promising to run well on a broad range of PowerMacs. The next step in the project is adding hardware support for 3Dfx and hopefully RAVE.

Tomb Raider 2 for Mac Press Release
NEW YORK--July 8, 1998--Tomb Raider II, starring virtual celebrity Lara Croft, will be available for the Macintosh in the fourth quarter of 1998.

One of the computer gaming industry's hottest titles, Tomb Raider II for the Macintosh will be published by Aspyr Media, a leading publisher of entertainment products for the Macintosh platform. The mega-hit Tomb Raider games, created by Core Design, are published on the PC and PlayStation by Eidos Interactive, and will be converted to the Macintosh platform by Westlake Interactive.

"Mac gamers and Lara Croft fans around the world have been chomping at the bit, waiting for this game to come to their platform of choice - the Macintosh," said Michael Rogers, President of Aspyr Media, Inc. "Tomb Raider II is sure to rock the Mac market and be the year's biggest game!"

Charles Cornwall, CEO of Eidos plc, said, "We are confident that Aspyr will do a great job bringing Tomb Raider II to the Mac."

Clent Richardson, Sr. Director of Worldwide Developer Relations of Apple Computer, Inc., added, "With Apple's new focus on the consumer market, hit titles like Tomb Raider II are the perfect compliment to our new hardware and the legendary ease of use of the Macintosh."

The award-winning Tomb Raider II is the second chapter in the continuing saga of Lara Croft. Join Lara in her quest for The Dagger of Xian, reputed to posses the power of the dragon. But beware, Lara is not the only one in search of the dagger!

Drive, swim, climb and conquer Lara's way across the eastern hemisphere and beyond. The adventure begins at The Great Wall of China, but it's not long before Lara is racing snowmobiles in Tibet and speeding her way through the canals of Venice. Swing from chandeliers, uncover a sunken ship, and scale walls in exotic locations. With Lara's agility and your skill there is no prize that will go unclaimed.

WWB Gameweek
Tuesday, July 14th
WWB GameZone Meets... Russell Ginns, Creative Director of Zero Entertainment

Zero Entertainment, Inc. is a team of experienced designers and engineers who have banded together to create unique, high-quality computer games. Hand-Crafted Computer Amusements describes their approach to software. With games like Pop! The Balloon Dog Puzzle Game and Crop Circles, they are certainly a cut above the mass of programs that fill download sites and software store bargain bins.From wickedly addictive puzzles to multiplayer mayhem, Their games will surprise you, entertain you, and eat up your free time. Where? In the WWB GameZone!

6:00 pm pacific/9:00 pm eastern

WWB GameZone Meets... Steve Meretsky

Meet the co-founder of Boffo Games! Steve has designed and directed 15 games, his most recent being is The Space Bar. This talented "design doctor" has consulted on numerous game development projects in addition to his own titles. Join us as we meet the creative force behind Planetfall, Leather Goddesses of Phobos, Zork Zero, Superhero League of Hoboken, Hodj ‘n’ Podj, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (co-authored with Douglas Adams).

Where? In the WWB GameZone!

7:00 pm pacific/10:00 pm eastern

Wednesday, July 15th

WWB GameZone Meets...(no scheduled guest yet) Where? In the WWB GameZone!

7:00 pm pacific/10:00 pm eastern

Thursday, July 16th

WWB GameZone Meets... Chris Dillman, PlaidWorld, Creators of Project Magellan

Two years in the making, Project Magellan is a high speed space shooter in the vein of R-Type and Raiden 2. This gripping game features fast, furious, “shoot-em-up” action with a myriad of killer enemies on the screen. In addition to armed drones that shadow the players’ movements, power up weaponry includes nine levels of tracking missiles, spread shots, star bursts, energy torpedoes and particle lasers. Where? In the WWB GameZone!

6:00 pm pacific/9:00 pm eastern

WWB GameZone Meets... Jim Lattanzio, Power Media What's up with the publiishers of aGora, Battle Girl and Scrap Metal? The GameZone brings you the focus of all that Macworld rumormongering! Now that the word is out, come ask all those questions you've been dying to know. You'll get the scoop straight from the Power Media Man! Where? In the WWB GameZone!

7:00 pm pacific/10:00 pm eastern

Just point your JAVA enabled browser to http://worldwithoutborders.com and click on the ChatNow! button...Netscape 3.0 or higher recommended for the site