-= SOFTWARE NEWS, VIEWS AND SNIPPETS =- From Newsflash UK MICROPROSE HIT THE ARCADES In an interesting move, Microprose are all set to move into the arcades with a coin op version of their venerable classic 'F15 Strike Eagle' whilst people are now sat muttering and lamenting over the lack lustre 16bit versions and the now ancient Atari 800/C64 versions.. hang on.. (or should that be lock-on?) because Microprose haven't just shoved any old machine into a box, stuck a telly on and a comp-pro joystick.. no, far from it! Microprose's design labs in the states have built and designed what they say is the most sophisticated arcade-games machine ever.. currently at the time of writing (because these things change from day to day) the most complex arcade machines have 2D graphics that can generate 12,000 polygons per second - according to Chuck Grempler of Microprose, their machine generates 60,000 and at a rate of 30 frame updates per second without sacrificing animation speed. Looking at the press release photos of the arcade machine itself, Microprose certainly mean business and the technical details speak for themselves. The cabinet is very well designed and the graphics look nothing short of superb, it looks a little bit like hard-driving but in the air if you can see what I mean. The only questions I could raise would be 'Will a Flight simulator succeed in the arcades?' 'Surely you'ld have to be on a long time?' but Microprose reckon they've solved these problems by making it combat based and have extensive replay and continue options as well as the facility to buy better weaponry (Falcon meets Rtype?) - they seem to have thought of everything. Obviously this is going to be some beast to see and I always enjoy watching fast moving solid 3D so it should be a real sight for sore eyes.. lookout for it sometime in the arcades from June/July but if you're going to have a go it looks like you're going to need plenty of money... Zoooooolooooooo!!! "Rorke's Drift" is the first of a new range by Impressions software, it is the result of many months work by a leading strategy designer. Like many other wargames it's based on strict historical data but rather than using conventional 'square' based 'boards' the programmer has opted to display everything in 3D using sprites and realistic images. The game is set in 1879 and faithfully recreates the encounter between 137 British soldiers and over 4,000 members of the Zulu tribe in Africa. A conflict full of bravery and honour, in fact 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded. In a new technique, you are able to control all 137 soldiers, you decide when they advance, retreat, rest, aim, fire and fight - every one has his own individual skills and for every man there is a piece on the battlefield. All buldings and large objects are sprites which means men can pass behind scenary. The game has been programmed to make it easy to use and is fully mouse-driven. The Last Starship blasts off! Your fleet has been wiped out by the awesome firepower of the deathwatch battlefleet. You alone escaped, aided by a mercenary who was caught in the crossfire. But it's not over yet, it won't be until you too are dead. Two ships against an entire fleet. The odds are against you. You are the last starship. 3 levels of shoot'em up action start in space where you have to wipe out many waves of the deathwatch fleet, after making it safely out of level one you'll encounter an asteroid storm.. after that it's on to the planet in an attempt to destroy the deathwatch city and mothership. Knights Of The Crsytallion In a strange move, Bill Williams seems to have left his Cinemaware roots and started creating his own games, the first of which will be distributed by Us Gold and is strange to say the least, or perhaps I should say unique. The story is long and the figment of a strange imagination and features more silly-names and phrases than is good for you such as Tsimit, Adreni, Haresh, Proda, Prods, Cripids, Deketa, Bosu, Orodrim, Tocanon and others besides - they're just in the first couple of sentences! I like fantasy stuff but I found it a shade over the top to say the least. Anyway besides a ridiculous story (which no fantasy game would be complete without) the game boasts several new features and original gameplay, great graphics and totally new and original computer-generated music to enhance the feel of the game. Many people are muttering about the game and I'll wait until I get a closer look before making any suggestions. Us Gold are claiming that it's not just a game but a culture... Ultima V Approachth The end of April sees the release of the latest Ultima saga, people have been waiting an age for this particular RPG where you can get to visit your mate Lord British again, using an interactive conversation mechanism and get to visit over 30 towns with as many as 5 levels. As with the other Ultima games, surely a must for the ardened RPG players. Retail price £30. DUE FOR RELEASE: F-29 [Ocean] At long, long last this has now been released and I hope it lives up to everyones expectations, I was a little disapointed when I saw it but not being a flight-sim fan hardly helps... Damocles [Novagen] Supposed to be out now, but then again I've not turned into a pumpkin lately either... Time Soldier [Electrocoin] Out soon, with graphics by my pal Rico.. Escape From Singe's Castle [Readysoft] The third in the astounding Yawnsoft Dragon's Lair series.. how many more will get released before the public realises that once you've seen the demo you've seen the game? Military bods can get ready for UMSII - lets hope its better than the clever but 'boring' first UMS.. How about some colour guys?? Klax - Apparantly better than (or as good as) Tetris, this game has you shuffling tiles and making strange hand signs.. watch out for this from Domark shortly.. Impossamole - Gremlins ancient mole superhero 'Monty' is back with a vengeance, the game is being programmed by Core (who did Rick Dangerous amongst other things) so it should be a playable little jaunt. Hot on the heels of Ultima 5 comes Ultima 6 - But when?? The new Ultima game has been re-designed to make the best use of the host machine.. and about time too methinks.. RPG'ers form an orderly queue.. US Gold have a soccer game, Italy 1990 due for release.. hmm, I hope its on form since their last world cup game on the 64/spec was DREADFUL with a capital S. Ding Ding! Round 3! Championship Wrestling (no not the Epyx one) hits the Amiga courtesy of Hewson... From Microprose there is M1 Tank Platoon due and a Ghost'n'Goblinny title from Steve 'Goldrunner.. yawn' Bak - and that looks good... Codemasters are releasing a 'Pub Trivia Simulator' in their budget range, about 9months after my mate Al told them about/sent them MY pub trivia game.. hmm I wonder where they got the idea from ?? Swivel-chair sportsfans can look forward to Cinemawares TV Sports Baseball, it looks well-good and due to the non-movement of the actual pitch itself, I think we can rely on nice, smooth, fast moving sprites and quality gameplay this time. Ubisoft have announced they are to release that playable, silly game PUFFY on the Amiga, written specifically for the Amiga - watch out for it, enhanced and called Super Puffy. Wowzers. Dive! Dive! 688 Attack sub is on the way, in the latest Uboat simulator, Ea are claiming great things, dive to 6 fathoms and find out soon... No St version either (grin). Gasp! The cheek of it! Software Projects have released that ANCIENT game Manic Miner for £9.99 it also comes with an enhanced 16bit mega version but I've been told the version that looks (and sounds) exactly like the speccy version is better! Dan Dare meets his old mates soon on the Amiga courtesy of Virgin, who didn't see fit to release the first Dan Dare game. DanDare II 'The Escape' should be out very soon.. if not now.. Thats' all for this issue.. remember if you or friends are working on software and would like a bit of publicity - you know where we are... Martyn/Newsflash UK.