Every day MacCentral brings readers news and information from the world of Mac gaming, but there are always a few stories that don’t make it onto the regular news pages. That’s why we have this retrospective, called The Week in Games.
Adventurers Guild built using the Mac
If you long for the days when adventure games meant text-based activity instead of 3D graphics, you might want to check out Entertainment Plus More Inc.’s Adventurer’s Guild, a text-based play by e-mail/Web adventure gaming system. It was built using QuickBasic from Microsoft on a Mac and is served on a G3; what’s more, it’s being converted over to RealBasic.
BombSquad released; Minesweeper for Mac OS X
Positive Spin Media has released BombSquad, its implementation of a Minesweeper-style game for Mac OS X. The game has some embellishments, like an Aqua interface and a timer feature that changes the nature of the game play a bit. It costs US$5 to register.
Freeverse releases Board Games Deluxe Series
Freeverse Software has posted release versions of their Freeverse Board Games Deluxe series. Initially released as freeware games that required other players to match wits against online, these shareware games incorporate solo play with computer-controlled AI too. The games include Chess, Checkers, Mancala, Go, 4-in-a-Row, 7th Fleet, Reversi and Tic-Tac-Toe. Compatible with Mac OS 8.6 or higher (and native for Mac OS X), the set costs $19.95 to register at the Freeverse Store.
Killing Time inexplicably now Carbonized for OS X
Killing Time — a horror/gore-based 3D action game published for the Macintosh by Logicware several years ago — has returned to Mac OS X. A new version 1.3 patch recently went into circulation that enables the game to work under OS X, and you can download it from the Killing Time Walkthrough Page.
MacMAME updated to 0.66.1
The arcade game emulator MacMAME saw two important updates this week — one to version 0.66, which brings it in sync (finally) with its PC counterpart and then to 0.66.1, which fixes some Mac-specific issues. MacMAME emulates coin-op arcade games from the 70, 80s and 90s — more details on how it works can be had on the MacMAME Web site.
MacMOHAA releases free map for Medal of Honor
The MacMOHAA site has released its first free multiplayer map for fans of Aspyr Media’s Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. Called “The Falls 1.2,” you can download it from their Web site now.
Redline progress updated
Ambrosia Software recently updated the progress log of its forthcoming 3D racing game, Redline. The latest changes for the forthcoming title include improved font rendering, a cleaner interface, changes to how replays work and how records are displayed, and more. No release date has been set, but the screenshots make this look like quite a detailed 3D auto-racing title.
Warcraft III action figures coming from Toycom
If you’re looking for an interesting monitor pet to show off your love of games, Toy maker Toycom plans to release action figures based on Blizzard Entertainment’s hit strategy game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. Figures include Prince Arthas, the Death Knight, Tichondrius, the Dread Lord, and Shandras Feathermoon, a Night Elf Archer. Look for them later this Spring.
World War II Online adds 1941 vehicles, more, free trial available
Playnet and Cornered Rat Software have updated their massive multiplayer online game World War II Online with circa-1941 vehicles like the Hawker Hurricane IIc, German Panzer III H and more. What’s more, they’re also offering Mac users a free trial version for download through Macgamefiles.com. Download the 98MB file and you can try it for two weeks free.
Elsewhere on the Web
MacGamer.com has posted an editorial called What’s That Really Going to Cost Me? that examines the ownership costs of PCs and Macs with some surprising results. Inside Mac Games has posted a preview of Legion, the forthcoming Roman Empire-era strategy game to be published by Virtual Programming Ltd. Apple’s Games site posted a preview of EverQuest, soon to be released on the Mac.
Closer to home
Game-related news posted to MacCentral this week includes Spiderweb Software’s plans to publish Genforge 2, a new role playing game. Graphics card and chip maker ATI posted an $8.3 million loss for its second financial quarter. e.p.i.c. interactive plans to bring Divine Divinity, a Diablo-style game, to the Mac later this year. Disney Interactive is now offering Piglet’s Big Game on hybrid CD-ROM for Mac and Windows users ages 4 and up. MacSoft has posted its new game site and offered details on forthcoming games. Bungie Software’s Myth II: Soulblighter has returned in Carbonized form for OS X thanks to the efforts of Project Magma and MythDevelopers.com.
As always, we encourage readers to let us know if they have ideas for ways that we can improve our game coverage on MacCentral, questions we haven’t answered, or products they’d like to see covered on these pages.