HOME
By Al Giovetti
Price:TBA
Genre:
Release:November 1997
Developer: New World Computing
Lead Artist:
Programmer:
Producer:
Publisher: New World Computing
Phone:
Website: www.nwcomputing.com
Requirements:TBA
Might & Magic VI: Sense of Wonder
History
In 1986, over ten years ago, when the first Might & Magic game was first introduced, Jon van Caneghem and his wife handled the entire business of New World Computing. When you got to the end of the game you found Jon in a room by himself sitting in front of the computer. The ending was cute and the actual truth. This is how Jon coded the game, by himself.
Might and Magic VI (6) is set to release as of February of 1997 by November of 1997. We fully expect this release date to be pushed back, in the fashion of all release dates today.
Company Line
Nothing is available as yet on the company web site or in press releases about the newest installment of our favorite game.Game Play
One of the big changes in this heretofore first person role playing adventure is the emphasis on keeping the game simple. New World Computing has excelled at keeping things simple in the past with innovations such as a quest automatic tracking screen where the progress in multiple quests is kept on one large screen within the game only a keypress away. Jon is already talking of the game while comparing it to Quake, so one can assume he has caught the Quake bug and may not stick with the tried and true role playing game formula that has taken him so far in these last ten years. Jon is also comparing the game to Magic Carpet another real time action adventure with little resemblance to role playing other than spells. Jon assures us that there will be fully rendered interactive scenes, which is the same as telling us nothing depending upon Jon's definition of interactive. Jon elaborates on other changes, "Our previous games worked like books: you performed an action, and the next event occured. Here everything evolves in the environment, whether you're involved or not. Seasons change, people come and go. Your party's actions will actually modify the world on a much larger scale than before, because information is stored in a global database. You'll even be able to buy places of business and improve them."
Combat
Combat will occur on a "carefully defined area that makes it easy to handle." "Battle will offer both turn-based and real-time options for your party, with the ability to reposition your party members" . . . in battle.Plot
Most of the Might and Magic games are quest based and not a kill the evil Wizard. The latest game Might and Magic V involved an evil wizard named Sheltem who was killed. Sheltem will not return so the plot may turn back to the knowledge based questing of the prior games. We can only hope.
Graphics
The use of a Quake engine for interiors and a Magic Carpet engine for exteriors will allow players to "climb up a mountain and actually look down into a valley, and examine things from a distance," according to Jon. "Most of the game will no longer be texture based. You will be able to pick up items and hand them around."
Animation
Voice Actors
Music Score
Special Effects
Utilities
Multi-player Features
This is expected to be a single player solitaire game.
Future
New Wold Computing is planning "at least two spinoffs using the same engine."Cheats, Hints, Walkthrough
Journalists
References
www.nwcomputing.comBarry Brenesal, PC Games, volume 4, number 3, March, 1997, pg. 38.
Al Giovetti, Might and Magic, The Computer Show