Every day on MacCentral we bring you news and info from the world of Mac games. Every so often there are stories that don’t make it to our regular news pages, and that’s why we have this weekly retrospective, which we call the Week in Games.
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Animals 1.2 brings basic reading skills to play
Marc Moini has released an educational game for youngsters called A-N-I-M-A-L-S From Letters & Sounds to Reading. The game combines basic letter recognition and sounds together with animal shapes for fun for beginning readers. What’s more, it supports English, French, German and Spanish. $29, and available for System 7 on up, including X.
Christmas Avalanche released
Dracosoft has released Christmas Avalanche, a holiday-themed version of their arcade puzzle game. In Avalanche, you have to destroy the oncoming avalanche as quickly as possible using bombs and combining bonuses. The Christmas version of Avalanche is available through the end of December, and works with existing Avalanche registration numbers.
DeepTrouble updated to 1.0.1
CodeBlender Software has updated its 3D sub hunting game for the Macintosh, DeepTrouble, to version 1.0.1. This minor maintenance update fixes a few problems with the initial release and can be downloaded from Macgamefiles.com.
Lux offers Risk fans some fun
Love the board game Risk? What strategy game fan doesn’t? Sillysoft is hoping to appeal to such folks using OS X with their recently released title Lux, which features “a billion different worlds” and support for up to 10 computer-controlled players with varying degrees of difficulty. The download requires registration after 20 games — costs $10.
MacPuyo 2 released
Liquid Metal Software has released MacPuyo 2, a falling objects-style puzzle game. The game features single and multiplayer modes, runs natively in OS X, and can be registered for $15.
Manic Minefields updated to 2.1.2
Norbyte has released a new version of Manic Minefields, their Minesweeper game for the Macintosh. The new version includes enhanced support for multibutton mice, improved graphics and other changes. Manic Minefields is distributed as $10 shareware.
Mutant Storm updated
Pompom Games has updated its wild Robotron-style Mac arcade shooter Mutant Storm for OS X. The new version removes its dependency on the Simple DirectMedia Library (SDL) that the original release required. A few other changes have also been made. Separate updates for the demo and full versions are available. If you haven’t already downloaded it, the versions on Pompom’s Web site have also been updated.
Neverwinter Nights Mac status updated
Bioware Corp. has updated its Neverwinter Nights Mac Version Web page with more information about the game’s development status (it’ll be published by MacSoft when it’s done). Bioware noted that the Mac version is now running custom content created by NWN fans via a Hak Pak. Screenshots ensue.
Pop-Pop 1.0.2 released
Ambrosia Software has released a new version of Pop-Pop, the maddeningly fun brickbashing/combat action game. Details on the new release have been posted to Ambrosia’s discussion board. Bug fixes have been made, some new features have been added too.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 goes final candidate
In their most recent electronic newsletter, Mac game publisher Aspyr Media noted that its conversion of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 has gone final candidate, one of the last stages before the game is declared gold master and sent to duplication. And before you complain about THPS 4 being out, consider please that it’s for consoles only — it hasn’t been released for PCs yet. THPS 3 similarly lagged for PCs.
Elsewhere on the Web
Inside Mac Games reviewed Bugdom 2, Pangea Software’s new Mac-only 3D action game. Apple’s Games site has posted a preview of F1 Championship Season 2000, the new Formula One racing game from Feral Interactive, as well as a teaser page for Alias Underground, a new 3D action game you’ll be able to play online for free, based on the popular ABC TV series “Alias.”
Closer to home
This week on MacCentral we noted the second annual Atlantic Canadian Mac Gaming Extravaganza, coming later this month to Halifax, NS. Gamers looking to boost their sound systems may be interested in the new Monsoon PlanarMedia 14 system. The Sims Unleashed is the latest The Sims expansion pack coming to Mac courtesy of Aspyr Media. GameRanger 3.1 has been released, and it sports support for new “unofficial” game releases and some interface refinements. MacPlay is shipping F1 Championship Season 2000 in North America.
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