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MacSoft to Bring Total Annihilation to the Mac
MacSoft and Cavedog Entertainment™, creator of the international award-winning Total Annihilation™, today jointly announced that the 3-D real-time strategy game will release on the Macintosh platform in the Fall of 1998 for about $49.99. Released on PC CD-ROM in September 1997, Total Annihilation is one of the most critically acclaimed real-time strategy games ever created, featuring more than 150 run-time 3-D game units, ultra-realistic 3-D terrains, advanced multi-player capabilities and 50 explosive, single-player missions.

"Total Annihilation was exactly what real-time strategy gamers were starving for. We created a groundbreaking game that seamlessly blends a free-form, 3-D world with lightning-fast game play and unparalleled realism," said Ron Gilbert, creative director and co-founder of Cavedog Entertainment. "We're thrilled to be working with MacSoft to bring the immersive Total Annihilation experience to Mac gamers."

"Total Annihilation is a generation ahead of the flat 2-D real-time games," said Peter Tamte, executive director of MacSoft, GT Interactive's Macintosh publishing group. "True 3-D offers innovative new gameplay dynamics and strategies players haven't experienced in any other real-time strategy game."

Total Annihilation feature highlights include:

• More than 150 different real-time rendered vehicles and structures;
• Combat over land, sea and air with units such as spider tanks, battle tanks, submarines, stealth bombers and more;
• Multi-player capabilities include modem, LAN and Internet combat, including unique watch-and-join modes as well as the ability to share resources and information;
• More than 25 missions per side, playable as either the Core or the Arm;
• Advanced enemy AI can challenge even the most experienced player;
• Simple commands allow for customized unit groupings, predetermined attack paths and configurable unit AI;
• Original music score performed by a 95-piece symphony orchestra;
• Scalable battlefield views with screen resolutions at 640 x 480 and higher;
• Customizable game interface options include line of sight, fog of war, units available in multi-player battles, background music and mouse click interface.

It looks like MacSoft 's PR Machines have gotten back from the E3:

MacSoft Sales Up 151 Percent
MINNEAPOLIS, June 3, 1998 - GT Interactive Software Corp.'s Macintosh publishing group, MacSoft, today announced that its Macintosh revenues increased 151 percent during the first quarter of 1998 compared to the first quarter of 1997. MacSoft publishes a variety of consumer-oriented software packages for Macintosh computers.

MacSoft attributed this growth to continuing sales of top-performing games such as Quake, Duke Nukem 3D and Civilization II, as well as the introduction of new products such as Top Gun, Play To Win Casino, and Deadlock. Additionally, MacSoft's home-office products Desktop Labels Pro and MacPublisher also performed well during the first quarter.

According to MacSoft Executive Director Peter Tamte, "our continuing growth proves there are substantial opportunities in the Macintosh consumer software market. The confidence gained from Apple's recent profitability is getting customers back into the stores. Now, with Apple introducing its first new consumer Macintosh in over two years - the iMac - we have yet another reason to be excited about Apple's future."

MacSoft to Release Civilization II Gold Edition
MINNEAPOLIS, June 3, 1998 - MacSoft announces the development of Civilization ™ II Gold Edition, which adds multi-player capabilities and many additional scenarios to Sid Meier's Civilization ® II, one of the best-selling and most highly acclaimed strategy games of all time. Civilization II Gold Edition is scheduled for release this summer.

"Civilization II for Macintosh is one of the best-selling Mac games of all time," said Peter Tamte, executive director of MacSoft. Civilization II has earned numerous awards, including Time magazine's Best Strategy Game of the Year for 1996 and PC Gamer's 1997 Game of the Year.

Sid Meier's Civilization® II and the add-on scenario packs Conflicts in Civilization and Civilization II Fantastic Worlds™ will be included in Civilization II Gold Edition. Other features of the game include:

• Multi-player support for up to seven players via hotseat, modem,LAN or Internet;
• A multitude of new options including timed moves, open/closedgames (players can join games in progress by taking over for an AI opponent), password protection and negotiation screens for human-to-human parleys where players can trade units, advances, money and make or break treaties;
• For faster gameplay, Civilization II Gold Edition will load any scenarios and allow players to pick a civilization to play. This includes user-created scenarios as well as preset game scenarios.

Civilization II Gold Edition allows players to be ruler of their own empires, controlling every decision necessary to build the most powerful civilization on the planet. Players can build societies based on the principles of democracy or rule with an iron fist. They can bring glory and power to their civilization by building incredible "Wonders of the World" or put their people to work to develop the principles of law, science and technology. Players can also negotiate with history's most ingenious leaders and form alliances with them or, on the contrary, command their military units to wage war against them for the purpose of conquest.

As in the original Civilization, the player's ultimate goal is to be the first civilization to colonize space or conquer the world. Civilization II Gold Edition thrusts players into an active role in history's greatest events.

MacSoft to Release Deer Hunter
MINNEAPOLIS, June 3, 1998 - The best-selling PC game in the country is coming to Macintosh this summer when MacSoft publishes WizardWorks' mega-hit Deer Hunter. Outpacing unit sales of best-sellers Myst, Riven, Quake II and Tomb Raider, Deer Hunter for the PC topped the PC Data charts for the first three months of this year. MacSoft's release of Deer Hunter marks the first hunting simulation game brought to Macintosh consumers.

Deer Hunter is an interactive deer hunting challenge that allows players to use a rifle, shotgun or bow as well as deer calls, rattles and binoculars to track and hunt deer in the wild. Locations include Arkansas autumn woodlands, Colorado Alpine forests and Indiana winter land. Live video and animated sequences combined with natural forest sounds result in a realistic hunting game play experience.

"With realistic scenery, including natural forest sounds and true-to-life hunting gear, Deer Hunter is truly the next best thing to actually being in the woods," said Peter Tamte, executive director for MacSoft. "Gamers will feel the thrill of the hunt sitting right at their computer."

Sorry for missing a couple days there, some life got in the way

Nanosaur 1.0.3 Released
Pangea Software has released an update for it's 3D Nanosaur game. This update fixes some crashing problems for people without 3D cards. You can find the new version at Pangea's Webpage here.

Shadow Warrior Total Conversion
A Mac version of the recently released PARK TC for Shadow Warrior has been released for the Mac. This is an excellent addition to Shadow Warrior and I suggest you check it out, you can find it here

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Westlake Interactive Welcomes new programmer
Westlake is pleased to announce the addition of a new programmer to our staff! Mark Krenek, a long time Mac developer (his first commercial application was published in 1986), is now working with Phil Sulak on the Falcon 4.0 Mac project. Mark's graphics and networking experience will bring much to the project. Mark also has previous Mac flight sim programming experience from his work on Flight Unlimited Mac.

Advertising Note:
Think of the MGA as a sorta of PBS, without the support of "viewers" like you we couldn't offer you all this great news, reviews, and info... But, unlike PBS, supporting us won't cost you a dollar, to support us all you have to do is click on the advertising banner on the top of this page, whenever you aren't in a rush, please, just click the banner... Without your support, we won't be able to pay for the MGA's web hosting, so please, please click the banner... Thank You!

MacStarcraft Beta Testers Wanted
As reported by the MGL, Brian Love has let it be known that Blizzard will begin a very limited beta test of Mac Starcraft in about two weeks, and they're looking for interested gamers. Be warned that this is an extremly limited test, there will only be about 70 CDs sent out. If you are interested in participating, they'll need some info.

Please send an email to Love with the subject line Mac Starcraft Beta that contains the following information:

Your preferred mailing address to receive a FedEx package
Your history, if any of testing software
Your system information as follows:

1.Your system model (e.g. PowerCenter Pro 210).

2.CPU type.

3.Amount of RAM (physical RAM, don't include VM).

4.Any expansion cards you may have added (especially video cards).

5.Any unusual control devices (such as a trackball).

6.OS version.

7.Any unusual extensions or control panels you may use.

And Good Luck!

Starbound 0.80 Released
Starbound II Version 0.80 has been released. This near-complete version is being put through a public beta before being burnt on cd-rom. Starbound II is a space strategy game that offers a modular design allowing players to build their own races and AI's. It also treats space as an area as opposed to a set of points, allowing fleets to patrol borders and more advanced interstellar travel. Starbound II also includes orbital and ground combat, along side of space combat. Check it out at: www.catfish-software.com

Joshua Grass
Catfish software

QuakeWorld 2.21 Update:
The following quote was recently posted by Mark Adams:
QuakeWorld 2.21 has been released on the PC and we HAVE received the code changes from id (thanks Zoid! We are trying to get the code merged with the Mac and ready for another beta release (probably the last before final) ASAP. With E3 this week though it may be early next week before the new client & server are ready, but we are working on it.

This update will bring the Mac version of QuakeWorld up to par with the PC version

Mac Unreal News
From Mark Adams of Westlake Interactive:
We have received final code for Unreal, and are working hard to merge it with the curent Mac version. There were quite a few changes in the final code, so there is lots of work to do. Currently we're tentatively hoping to have the Mac version ready for ship by mid or late July.

Advertising Note:
Think of the MGA as a sorta of PBS, without the support of "viewers" like you we couldn't offer you all this great news, reviews, and info... But, unlike PBS, supporting us won't cost you a dollar, to support us all you have to do is click on the advertising banner on the top of this page, whenever you aren't in a rush, please, just click the banner... Without your support, we won't be able to pay for the MGA's web hosting, so please, please click the banner... Thank You!