As a civilization crumbles, mechanical Goliaths battle

Article Abstract:

Microprose's Mech Commander CD-ROM strategy game depicts a fictional interstellar universe inhabited by warring mechanical monsters. Battle Mech, a 40-foot walking tank, is the central image that epitomizes adolescent power fantasies. Among its abilities are flattening trees, destroying buildings and deciding who lives and dies. Players representing a weakened galactic federation in 3050 must recapture a planet from ruthless warrior clans that feature superior numbers and weapons. Success requires strategic planning and execution of numerous tasks such as attacking supply lines and destroying even more powerful enemy Mechs. A lack of resources also requires players to recycle and scavenge for valuable parts. The game was also designed to recall the fall of Rome and rise of competing feudal city states that drove technology backward. The Windows 95-compatible Mech Commander, which operates on an IBM ThinkPad, is scheduled for a Jun 1997 release.

Strategy game, Computer strategy games, MicroProse Inc., MPRS, Mech Commander (Strategy game)

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Step right up: monsters hate, monsters fight

Article Abstract:

Tecmo's popular $34.99 Monster Rancher video game requires users to breed, raise and train virtual monsters and then place them in a ring against rival monsters. Monster Rancher, which already has 500,000 copies in North American Sony Playstations, generates monsters based on the way users arrange their audio CDs. Songs and song length determine a monster's attributes such as speed, strength, intelligence and body parts. Creatures also can be combined by crossing musical styles. Monsters require training to avoid laziness, but excessive preparation can drain virtual bank accounts and risk injuries, exhaustion and resentment. Thousands of monster-rearing tips are available at the Monster Rancher HQ Web site. Inside jokes include the same monster generated from 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and Marilyn Manson's 'Antichrist Superstar,' in addition to the same Evil Hare from Bill Gates's 'Road Ahead' CD-ROM and 'The Beavis and Butt-head Experience.'

Tecmo, Monster Rancher (Adventure game)

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From Hitchhiker spoofs to Starship Titanic

Article Abstract:

Simon & Schuster International's and the Digital Village's $49.95 Starship Titanic adventure game reflects the mind of Douglas Adams, who has authored the 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' science fiction novel series. The object is to identify and fix problems on a star cruiser, then return home. Personal Electronic Thing (PET) is a control panel that handles all virtual baggage and provides players with a natural language parser for conversational-English communication with Starship Titanic's crew of intelligent robots. A robot vocabulary of more than 3,000 words and 12,000 cultural references represents an improvement over early language-recognition programs. The robots can comprehend and respond accordingly to incomplete sentences, elliptical comments and even veiled insults. Starship Titanic was first mentioned briefly in the third 'Hitchhiker' book, 'Life, the Universe and Everything.'

Simon & Schuster Interactive, Starship Titanic (Adventure game)

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