It’s all quiet on the PC front

By PETER ELEY

Many software companies are concentrating on the Play-Station2, and the upcoming Xbox and GameCube.

But there are some tasty titles smouldering away on the back burner which may stem the relentless march of the super consoles.

One eagerly awaited PC game, Max Payne, has been released in the US and should be on New Zealand shelves soon. It promises to set a new standard in graphics — provided your system has the muscle, of course.
I've seen snatches of the game, and it looks good, almost like full video.

Another upcoming title is Galactic Battlegrounds, another spin-off from the new series of Star Wars movies.

There seems to be an endless supply of these games from the LucasArts assembly line, but this Galactic Battlegrounds may break the mould. It's a real-time strategy game, and uses software developed by Ensemble Studios for Age of Empires II.

Players command one of six factions fighting for galactic control. Favourites from the Phantom Menace — Wookies, Gungans, the Royal Naboo, the Galactic Empire, Trade Federation and the Rebel Alliance — all have roles.

There are shoot-em-up games to burn, but the upcoming AquaNox from Massive has a new twist.

The clue is in the title — yes, it takes place underwater. This game has been in development for three years and has been constantly revised to cope with the huge advances in graphics cards.

The game is set in 2666, some centuries after mankind finally ruins the planet and has to take refuge under the waves.

Real-time strategy games such as Red Alert and Age of Empires have dominated the best-seller lists. Now a realistic real-time war game is on the way. Real War is based on a game used as a training tool by the US military.

Campaigns are based around nuclear proliferation, espionage and diplomacy and the game uses ground rules for strategic planning as laid down by the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

On the military theme, Black Thorn, another Rogue Spear game is on the way. It is a stand alone mission pack which recreates actual terrorist attacks, and introduces new weapons such as the FAMAS assault rifle.

peter_eley@nzherald.co.nz