Each week MacCentral brings readers the latest news and info from the Mac game business. There are always a few stories that don’t make it onto our regular news pages, though, and that’s why we have this retrospective, called The week in games. We also link to other Mac game news of interest around the Web.
Age of Mythology now available
More than a week ago we brought you news that MacSoft planned to have Age of Mythology on store shelves this past week. On Thursday, MacSoft announced that the game had indeed showed up on store shelves. The game should be in the hands of European customers this coming week. Age of Mythology transports players back to a time when heroes did battle with monsters of legend, as players fight to raise their civilization to greatness.
Ares maker seeks beta testers for new game
Bigger Planet — the company behind Ambrosia Software’s beloved game Ares — is seeking beta testers for a new game in development called Starbase Defender. The developer describes Starbase Defender as a “conceptually simple game” that evokes arcade classics like Rip-Off, Tempest and Missile Command.
Aspyr hires Butler for Mac game programming
Aspyr Media Inc. announced last week that it hired John Butler as part of its Mac game development group at Aspyr Studios. Butler is yet another Westlake Interactive alum who has worked on games from Aspyr and MacSoft in the past.
Combat Mission Afrika Corps demo released
Battlefront.com has released a demo of its new strategy wargame Combat Mission: Afrika Corps. Set in World War II and depicting action between allied and axis armored divisions in North Africa, the game runs in Mac OS 9 or lower only (it uses a RAVE-based graphics engine).
Creatures 1. released
Mike Ash has released Creatures 1.0, an artificial life program. It’s not a game in the conventional sense as much as a simulation that explores evolution, natural selection, genetic programming and artificial life. It runs on Jaguar or later and costs US$15 to register.
KTA Tennis gains animated opponent
Karl Becker continues to develop his new uDevGame 2003 entry KTA Tennis with a new 0.50 release. The new version adds an animated computer opponent. KTA Tennis is meant to evoke the Super Nintendo console game Super Tennis.
Solitaire Till Dawn X v1.2.1 released
Semicolon Software released Solitaire Till Dawn X v1.2.1, a new version of their popular solitaire card game collection. The new version is a bug-fix release and is a free update for existing users.
Tiger Woods 1.1 update goes final
Aspyr Media’s update to Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 has gone final. Previously available only as a beta version, the 1.1 update fixes graphics glitches, OS 9 problems, performance improvements and much more. You can download the patch from Macgamefiles.com.
Warcraft III bonus map released — Deadlands
Blizzard’s latest bonus map for Warcraft III — Deadlands — is now available. The map is suitable for 3v3 or 4v4 play, and is based on the Outland tile set.
Elsewhere on the Web
MacGamer has posted a “first glance” at the Power Mac G5 dual processor 2.0GHz system from a gamer’s perspective. Inside Mac Games interviewed Andrew Welch, founder and president of well-known Mac game and utility publisher Ambrosia Software. Apple’s Games site has posted a preview of Halo: Combat Evolved, coming in early December from MacSoft.
Closer to home
MacCentral game news headlines from this past week — Cosmic Encounter Online is giving cash away to its players. Feral Interactive is offering two new bundle deals. Aspyr Media is shipping Star Trek Elite Force II. Apple introduced a new dual-processor 1.8GHz Power Mac G5 and a new 20-inch iMac. MacPlay said that Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal should be hitting store shelves right about now. Nvidia Corp. announced a new high-end graphics chip aimed at notebook users.
As always, you’re welcome to drop us a line if you have questions, comments or suggestions.