@~A change to the usual News Section format as Richard braves the
@~London crowds to visit the ...

                      Autumn E.C.T.S.
                A report by Richard Hewison.

The European Computer Trade Show (E.C.T.S.) has moved location in
the last 12 months. Since 1988 (when the show began) it has been
held in the Business Design Centre at Islington, North London.
However, this March the show moved to Olympia so we had to brave
another trip into London thanks to BR and then navigate the
underground in order to arrive by the time the show opened.

Change is the name of the game in the industry. Its future
prosperity is resting on the shoulders of the IBM PC CD-ROM, the
Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn CD based consoles (with the
Nintendo Ultra 64 cartridge console due sometime next year in
Europe). So, what does this mean for us more discerning software
buyers who prefer the RPG, Adventure & Simulation games? In no
particular order...

For the last three or four trade shows in a row, Interplay have
been showing their 3D R.P.G. "Stonekeep". A year ago they had a
massive stonewall style stand promoting the game. This year they
had just two computers running what looked very much like the same
'playable' demo they had last time around. The graphics are a
mixture of full-screen texture mapped 3D-renderings and video
footage of people dressed up as monsters. The acting in the intro
is standard CD-ROM quality (i.e. the acting and the script isn't
up to much!) but at least technically the video footage holds up
well. The game doesn't use a standard on-screen control system.
Instead you are given 'pop up' windows when you need them. If
anyone wants to have a look at "Stonekeep" and demo of the intro
and the game itself was on the cover CD of the July '95 issue of
CD Powerplay (RPG special). I'm not sure about the playability of
the game and I've not yet been converted into a fan of poor actors
being forced to say even poorer lines in a game. According to the
press pack, the game is due for a Winter '95 release and is
initially only available for the PC on CD-ROM.

Another game that might be of interest is Interplay's license of
the recent Kevin Costner movie "Waterworld". They are going to
release two games - one action (arcade) and the other strategy. As
in the movie, the world is covered by water as the Polar Caps
melt. The survivors of the human race are forced to scavenge over
the seas, looking for hydro (pure water), food and dirt (to grow
things in). There is a legend that says dry land exists somewhere!
In the strategy game you have to manoeuvre your troops over 3D
rendered terrain and give them battle commands in a series of
real-time scenarios. A variety of different missions (offensive
and defensive) will use a number of vessels including canoes, jet
skis, assault crafts and Rocket barges. From what I saw both
running at the show and in the press release, this game looks a
little like S.S.I.'s rather poor "Dark Sun: Shattered Lands" but
with improved graphics. It will also feature over 30 mins of
original film footage using actual sets, actors, costumes and
unseen sequences from the movie. A two player modem or network
feature will also be available. Waterworld - Strategy is due for
release on PC and Mac CD-ROM in the Spring of '96.

"Conquest of the New World" is set in the age of discovery. This
strategy game is played out on an isometric playing area, and can
be run in SVGA.  Trade and negotiations seem to be the order of
the day. Again this game will feature a modem or network feature
and is due in the Winter of '95 on PC CD-ROM. "Star Trek:
Judgement Rites" is being revamped for CD-ROM with original cast
voices, interviews and a free 'classic Trek' episode on video
(City on the Edge of Forever). Interplay's final offering in our
genre is "Frankenstein - Through the Eyes of the Monster". You
play the part of the monster in this CD-ROM only game for Mac and
PC featuring lots of video footage starring Tim Curry (Rocky
Horror Picture Show, Legend, Congo etc).  Lots more 3D rendered
graphics and another intuitive invisible interface is promised
when the game comes out this Winter (1995).

Microprose were showing a playable version of "Formula One Grand
Prix 2" for the first time on PC at the show. It looks like the
original but with much improved graphics (undoubtedly at the
expense of a much higher 'minimum spec' machine). The 3D system in
the versions on show was obviously not working properly (it fell
apart at times when the car spun off the road and faced the stands
crowded with spectators along the road-side) and the sound effects
were identical to those in the original. This game should be
available just before Christmas and will feature all the current
F1 tracks and all the correct team names, real car colours, real
sponsors etc. I didn't see it on the stand, but Microprose are
also going to publish the computer version of the U.S. fantasy
card game "Magic - The Gathering". It will feature the same
illustrations as found in the 1,000 cards used in the paper based
original and will also be modem or network friendly on PC CD-ROM.

@~As someone who is eagerly awaiting Magic the Gathering on the
@~PC, I'm sad to tell you that it's been delayed until April 1996
@~as it's being rewritten for Windows '95 ... Sue

"Transport Tycoon Deluxe" should be available by the time you read
this report and adds four new worlds (Temperate, Sub-Tropical,
Toytown and Sub-Arctic) as well as lots of new features and
network play. Their latest flight sim is based on the Tom Cruise
movie "Top Gun - Fire at Will" (which I think is very unfair on
Will if you ask me!) but all I could see on the stand was what
looked like the MPEG encoded CDI video disc of the movie. Whether
this was part of the front-end to the game or not I couldn't tell.

A surprise was in store at the Virgin Interactive Entertainment
stand. They didn't seem to be showing the "Lands of Lore 2" demo
that they have shown for the last two shows running. I can only
assume that this means the game has slipped even more and they
don't want to mention a release date that they will only have to
change later on. "Command and Conquer" was playable (but then
again it should be - at the time of writing the game is apparently
only two weeks away from release!). "The XIth Hour" is another of
the Virgin games that has been "Coming Soon" for almost two years.
However, if all goes according to plan this 4 CD follow up to "The
7th Guest" will be released at the end of November. On the face of
it, the game plays very much like the first one and is even set in
the same spooky house (but 70 years later). The interface is
identical as far as I could tell from the brief play I had at the
stand. I guess if you liked the first one, this is more of the

same.  Personally I think the gameplay is going to be linear but
then I didn't like the first one either!

Star Wars fans can look forward to the Special Collectors CD-ROM
edition of "Tie Fighter" which now includes extra missions
previously unavailable, more speech and SVGA graphics (but only if
your machine can handle this resolution in the 3D sequences). The
follow up to the awful "Rebel Assault" is looking much much better
and looks like it pinches a few elements from "Dark Forces" along
the way. The rendered in-between screens also look very nice. "The
Dig" was also on show, but it just looks like any other Lucasarts
graphic adventure to me. Apparently this one is a bit longer to
play than the rather short "Full Throttle" which was released
earlier in the year.

Sierra's entry into the CD-ROM rendered graphics and video actors
game genre comes in the form of "Phantasmagoria" which has been in
development (i.e slipped its release date) for a few years now.
Sierra have actually built their own studio in California to
produce this type of multi-media program and hired 25 actors, a
Hollywood producer and a Hollywood special effects 'master' to
help them. The game is scheduled for release on PC (Windows) and
Mac in July '95 (according to the press packs handed out at the
show which was in September and I'm reasonably sure it isn't
released yet!). I know that Sue enjoyed "Under a Killing Moon" but
this kind of product isn't my idea of a game. Spending millions of
dollars on a game which comes on 7 (!) CDs just makes me want to
cringe. If I want to see a film I buy or rent a video and watch it
on my TV. The picture quality will be much better and in most
cases so will the acting. Is this really what we want the games
software industry to become?

The Sierra CD-ROM onslaught continues. The new Gabriel Knight
mystery - "Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within" plunges the player
into a disturbing, baroque Germany, on the track of King Ludwig of
Bavaria, Wagner's last opera, and the mysterious "Black Wolf".
Gabriel, a descendant of the Schattenj„gers (Shadow Hunters)
family, is investigating in Munich a series of murders involving
mutilations which could be the work of werewolves! Right from the
prologue, you will be fascinated by this intriguing adventure
which will catch you up in a story beginning in 1750. Featuring
original music including an entire opera composed by Robert
Holmes, and 80 different locations (1,000 screens). The story is
set out in a prologue and 6 chapters, punctuated by the
interventions of the two heroes, Gabriel Knight and Grace, his
assistant. The game will be playable under Dos and Windows and
will come on 5 CDs.

"Lost In Town" is described as a video thriller. Details seem to
be scant about the actual game, but it took several months to film
and uses 180 minutes worth of footage. "Police Quest SWAT" has
been designed by Daryl F. Gates, former police chief of Los
Angeles and Tammy Dargan, who directed the previous Police Quest
episodes (funny, I thought they were games!). You are a member of
SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactic Forces). You are working in the
special weapons and strategies department and learning how to
tackle all types of crisis situations. Will you be able to handle
all the dangers of one of the biggest cities in the United States?
Innocent lives are depending on your ability to defend and protect
them. The game will feature presentations of the different
strategies used by the SWAT teams to respond to terrorist attacks;
an apprenticeship covering the most advanced SWAT equipment, such
as MP5 and AR15 rifles, tear gas and stun grenades, or the
special helmets; training in how to become a SWAT marksman, using
a Robar 308 fitted with a sight, and 'extremely well-documented'
video sequences filmed on the training sites of real SWAT
officers, and views of the outskirts of Los Angeles.

"Torin's Passage" is an adventure a little closer to the old
Sierra "King's Quest" storyline. When he comes home one morning,
Torin discovers that his parents have been kidnapped by a witch
and are being kept as prisoners under one of her spells. Torin
abandons his work as farm hand and decides to pursue this witch
(whose name he knows, but that's all), to trace her whereabouts
and lift the spell put on his parents. This minutely detailed and
dangerous quest will be his Rite of Passage into adulthood. Jokes,
puzzles and suspense all the way! With a press pack description
like that, you have to hope that this game is intended for young
kids, not adults - although the fact that it's been designed (or
'directed' as they now like to put it) by Al 'Leisure Suit Larry'
Lowe tends to suggest otherwise. The graphics are definitely in
the style of Walt Disney cartoons which is a relief after all the
CD-ROM video found in the other Sierra titles!

Sales Curve Interactive (SCI) aren't known for their adventure or
RPG titles, but they are hoping that "Kingdom of Magic" is going
to change all that.  Three different quests (Traditional Ye Olde
Quest, Magnificent 7/11 Quest, Slightly Bizarre and Twisted Quest)
are on offer in this comedy point and click adventure which
utilises Silicon Graphics 3D environment, 90 intelligent
characters, 105 in-game locations (where else are they supposed to
be?) and full lip-synched speech. It looks a little strange to see
a comedy game portrayed with SG visuals, especially when cartoon
style 'hand drawn' graphics would convey the comedy much better.
The game is due for release in late '95 on PC CD-ROM and early '96
on Mac, PlayStation and Saturn.

Mindscape have a number of products lined up for the next 6 months
or so.  "Aliens - The Comic Book Adventure" is due for release in
November. Based on the Dark Horse comics (which are themselves
based on events after the second movie in the series (Aliens) but
before the third) this game has been written by prolific French
developers Cryo (Dune, Mega-race, Lost Eden, Commander Blood,
KGB/Conspiracy). This is a point and click adventure in a similar
style to their previous releases. Lots of rendered location
graphics are expected as well as full speech. Cryo have a
particular style which seems to suit this particular license very
well if what was on offer at the show is anything to go by. Any
game based on the Alien series needs atmosphere, and the graphics
look like matching up to this requirement. As long as Cryo also
match their own standards when it comes to the music, this game
should be one to look out for. The game features full speech and
some of it can be slightly strong at times, so be warned!

"War Hammer - Shadow of the Horned Rat" is faithful to Games
Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy Battle World. This is a strategy
adventure game where you can view the battles from any angle with
complete 360 degree freedom of movement across a scrolling 3D
landscape. Full speech, rousing music and realistic sound effects
are also promised.

S.S.I. (Now owned by Mindscape) have quite a large number of
adventure, strategy and RPG titles on the way. "Death Keep" is a
first person fantasy adventure game which will pit you against an
evil necromancer who has escaped from his icy prison and is
wreaking havoc. This game looks like a cross between "Ultima
Underworld" and "Stonekeep". S.S.I.'s other titles are
"Thunderscape" (an RPG which superficially looks similar to
"Shadowcaster"), and "Entomorph" (an SVGA overhead style RPG which
looks not unlike "Dark Sun - Shattered Lands").  Mindscape are
also now looking after Sir-Tech (who produced the Wizardry series
in the U.S.). Their latest game is called "Druid - Daemons of the
Mind" and this one looks a little like "Ultima VIII". The game
uses rendered isometric graphics and it looks quite good. Whether
it matches up in the 'ease of use' stakes to the interface found
in Mindscape's own "Legend" and "Son of the Empire" from a few
years ago is another story.

Unfortunately I didn't get to see E.A.'s stand so I don't know if
Bullfrog were showing off their new game currently in development
which puts you in charge of a dungeon and the idea is to stop the
party of adventurers! Whilst it isn't an adventure, Acclaims
"Alien Trilogy" should give fans of the "Doom" style game a run
for their money, although it seems to only be coming out for the
Sony PlayStation and the Sega Saturn consoles.

As with the previous show back in March, these supposedly Trade
Only events are getting busier and louder every time. They are
almost as hectic as the public shows! The future seems to be
rendered graphics and video footage on anything from 4 to 7 CDs.
Whether the buying public can keep up with the technology required
to run these high spec games is another matter entirely.  We only
recently upgraded to a 486 DX2 and this is now considered to be
the 'bare minimum' spec machine for most of the titles on show. I
think I'll go back to my Spectrum emulator and have another go at
some of those old classic adventures I used to spend hours trying
to solve back in the 80s...


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