ISSUE: 18Content
PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE THIS ISSUE
-
Sega Saturn
-
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
-
3DO
-
M2 (never released)
-
Ultra 64 (the eventual Nintendo 64)
-
PC - PC CD-ROM
-
Windows 95
-
Sony Playstation
-
arcade
---
(The following is loosely based on this issue's table of contents, with select issue excerpts included. Magazine accurate text formatting (lower case headers, etc) purposefully retained. (Notes) and bullet lists are added for clarity.)
(Beginning with this issue, the recurring news column 'Generator' expands to a full page of "development news" and is now helmed by George Zachary (formerly of Silicon Graphics and interviewee of Next Generation #14.))
talking
What the hell does Bill Gates know about games, anyway?
The answer may surprise you. In this world exclusive interview, the most successful entrepreneur on the planet waxes eloquent on Microsoft's entry into the gaming market, the role of consoles versus PCs, why Trip Hawkins' 3DO Multiplayer failed, and plenty more. (nine page interview)
breaking
News
(Original news articles along with regular, recurring news features; one page each unless noted. While original news stories regularly included related sidebars, unrelated sidebars would often be used to fill space as well - these are noted.)
1996: Next Generation's game forecast
What does the future have in store for gamers? Time to put our reputation on the line... (two pages)
Sega creates alternate reality
Sega opens the doors of its seven-story theme park in London, UK. (includes 'Sega FECs' (family entertainment centers) sidebar)
Divorce absolute for Sega and M2
The 64-bit relationship that never officially was, has ended.
Saturn's Heart of Darkness (sidebar; 'Heart of Darkness' preview)
New software prolific at PlayStation Expo
Sony plays host to yet another dedicated event.
Nintendo's new color handheld (sidebar; Project Atlantis news)
(Recurring news features; one page each unless noted:)
movers & shakers
A monthly look at business news affecting the gaming world. (business news by Chris Sherman)
Joyriding
The latest developments in online gaming. (online gaming news by Bernard Yee)
Arcadia
All the latest coin-op and arcade news. (arcade news by Marcus Webb)
Generator
As CPUs begin to incorporate more specialized chip functions, will the dedicated graphics processor be assimilated as well? (development news by George Zachary)
ng hardware
Will DVD change the face of videogames?
The introduction of CD-ROM technology caused one of the major paradigm shifts in videogame history. DVD (Digital Video Disc) is the next big thing (holding seven times more data than a CD), but will games suffer as a result of its arrival? (eight pages, including 'DVD: the specs' sidebar and the following sections:)
-
What the DVD numbers mean
-
DVD game consoles?
-
DVD does everything...
-
So how does DVD work?
ng special
What's Microsoft's game?
Curious about Microsoft's entry into the gaming market? Next Generation reveals the company's three-tiered gaming strategy and evaluates its chances for success. Will Microsoft '98 look like Nintendo '86? The definitive report starts on page 46. (nine pages, including 'Direct X: Just what's going on?' sidebar, 'DirectPlay 2.0 Components' sidebar, and two pages of 'Microsoft Alphas' game previews (1/2 per game))
-
Close Combat (Win95)
-
Deadly Tide (Win95)
-
Hellbender (Win95)
-
Monster Truck Madness (Win95)
ng software
Alphas (game previews, sometimes presented as part of a themed overview or interview; one page each unless noted:)
(Next Generation's game previews often varied in scope and size. Smaller previews were usually traditional in presentation, while larger previews often incorporated developer commentary. The largest previews were typically presented as a themed article (focusing on a development studio, accessory, etc) previewing one or more titles and were often accompanied by an interview (noted).)
-
Virtua Fighter 3 (arcade; four pages; includes 'Model 3 Specs' and 'From the makers of...' sidebars)
-
G.U.R.P.S. (PCCD; three pages)
-
Wrinkle River Story (Sat)
-
Dark Earth (PCCD; three pages)
-
Lords of the Realm (PCCD)
-
Leisure Suit Larry 7: Yank-her's Away! (PCCD)
-
X-COM: the Apocalypse (PCCD; two pages)
-
Prop Cycle (arcade)
-
Heroes of Might and Magic II (PCCD; two pages)
-
Blast Chamber (Sat,PS)
-
Rayman 2 (PS,Sat,PCCD)
-
G-Nome (Win95)
-
Last Bronx (arcade)
-
Killing Zone (PS; two pages)
rating
Finals
(While all video game magazines make the occasional slip, NEXT Generation's game review section was especially notorious and/or exceptional for reviewing games never formally released in North America, or were instead eventually released under a different title. In some cases an import title would be reviewed with the domestic release also reviewed in a later issue. Japanese import reviews are noted when known. Reviews were usually 1/8th to 1/4th page in length, though this varied wildly and length was never pre-determined - one page reviews would see print on rare occasions. Higher rated and/or spotlighted games would usually receive more page real estate than lower rated.)
PlayStation
-
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV
-
Silverload
-
Alien Trilogy
-
Sidewinder
Saturn
-
Earthworm Jim 2
-
Night Warriors: Dark Stalker's Revenge
-
Worms
-
Shining Wisdom
-
Iron Storm
3DO
-
Cyberdillo
-
Cyberia
PC
-
Allied General
-
Ripper
-
CyberSpeed
-
Descent II
-
Hyper 3-D Pinball
-
Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom
-
Rayman
-
Space Bucks
-
Top Gun
-
Whiplash
SNES
-
Mario RPG (Super Mario RPG)
Arcade
-
Funky Head Boxers
-
NBA Hangtime
-
Street Fighter Alpha II
-
19XX
32-bit gamer's guide (review score reference guide; two pages)
corresponding
Letters
Often controversial, usually intelligent, occasionally funny, and - every now and then - about EGM! (reader mail; two pages)
theorizing
The way games ought to be... Hi-octane game theory by Chris Crawford
The spotlight is a fickle lover. But of all the game designers who have basked in the glory of public praise, which ones are still around to reap the rewards today? (1.33 pages)
PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE THIS ISSUE
- Sega Saturn
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- 3DO
- M2 (never released)
- Ultra 64 (the eventual Nintendo 64)
- PC - PC CD-ROM
- Windows 95
- Sony Playstation
- arcade
---
(The following is loosely based on this issue's table of contents, with select issue excerpts included. Magazine accurate text formatting (lower case headers, etc) purposefully retained. (Notes) and bullet lists are added for clarity.)
(Beginning with this issue, the recurring news column 'Generator' expands to a full page of "development news" and is now helmed by George Zachary (formerly of Silicon Graphics and interviewee of Next Generation #14.))
talking
What the hell does Bill Gates know about games, anyway?
The answer may surprise you. In this world exclusive interview, the most successful entrepreneur on the planet waxes eloquent on Microsoft's entry into the gaming market, the role of consoles versus PCs, why Trip Hawkins' 3DO Multiplayer failed, and plenty more. (nine page interview)
breaking
News
(Original news articles along with regular, recurring news features; one page each unless noted. While original news stories regularly included related sidebars, unrelated sidebars would often be used to fill space as well - these are noted.)
1996: Next Generation's game forecast
What does the future have in store for gamers? Time to put our reputation on the line... (two pages)
Sega creates alternate reality
Sega opens the doors of its seven-story theme park in London, UK. (includes 'Sega FECs' (family entertainment centers) sidebar)
Divorce absolute for Sega and M2
The 64-bit relationship that never officially was, has ended.
Saturn's Heart of Darkness (sidebar; 'Heart of Darkness' preview)
New software prolific at PlayStation Expo
Sony plays host to yet another dedicated event.
Nintendo's new color handheld (sidebar; Project Atlantis news)
(Recurring news features; one page each unless noted:)
movers & shakers
A monthly look at business news affecting the gaming world. (business news by Chris Sherman)
Joyriding
The latest developments in online gaming. (online gaming news by Bernard Yee)
Arcadia
All the latest coin-op and arcade news. (arcade news by Marcus Webb)
Generator
As CPUs begin to incorporate more specialized chip functions, will the dedicated graphics processor be assimilated as well? (development news by George Zachary)
ng hardware
Will DVD change the face of videogames?
The introduction of CD-ROM technology caused one of the major paradigm shifts in videogame history. DVD (Digital Video Disc) is the next big thing (holding seven times more data than a CD), but will games suffer as a result of its arrival? (eight pages, including 'DVD: the specs' sidebar and the following sections:)
- What the DVD numbers mean
- DVD game consoles?
- DVD does everything...
- So how does DVD work?
ng special
What's Microsoft's game?
Curious about Microsoft's entry into the gaming market? Next Generation reveals the company's three-tiered gaming strategy and evaluates its chances for success. Will Microsoft '98 look like Nintendo '86? The definitive report starts on page 46. (nine pages, including 'Direct X: Just what's going on?' sidebar, 'DirectPlay 2.0 Components' sidebar, and two pages of 'Microsoft Alphas' game previews (1/2 per game))
- Close Combat (Win95)
- Deadly Tide (Win95)
- Hellbender (Win95)
- Monster Truck Madness (Win95)
ng software
Alphas (game previews, sometimes presented as part of a themed overview or interview; one page each unless noted:)
(Next Generation's game previews often varied in scope and size. Smaller previews were usually traditional in presentation, while larger previews often incorporated developer commentary. The largest previews were typically presented as a themed article (focusing on a development studio, accessory, etc) previewing one or more titles and were often accompanied by an interview (noted).)
- Virtua Fighter 3 (arcade; four pages; includes 'Model 3 Specs' and 'From the makers of...' sidebars)
- G.U.R.P.S. (PCCD; three pages)
- Wrinkle River Story (Sat)
- Dark Earth (PCCD; three pages)
- Lords of the Realm (PCCD)
- Leisure Suit Larry 7: Yank-her's Away! (PCCD)
- X-COM: the Apocalypse (PCCD; two pages)
- Prop Cycle (arcade)
- Heroes of Might and Magic II (PCCD; two pages)
- Blast Chamber (Sat,PS)
- Rayman 2 (PS,Sat,PCCD)
- G-Nome (Win95)
- Last Bronx (arcade)
- Killing Zone (PS; two pages)
rating
Finals
(While all video game magazines make the occasional slip, NEXT Generation's game review section was especially notorious and/or exceptional for reviewing games never formally released in North America, or were instead eventually released under a different title. In some cases an import title would be reviewed with the domestic release also reviewed in a later issue. Japanese import reviews are noted when known. Reviews were usually 1/8th to 1/4th page in length, though this varied wildly and length was never pre-determined - one page reviews would see print on rare occasions. Higher rated and/or spotlighted games would usually receive more page real estate than lower rated.)
PlayStation
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV
- Silverload
- Alien Trilogy
- Sidewinder
Saturn
- Earthworm Jim 2
- Night Warriors: Dark Stalker's Revenge
- Worms
- Shining Wisdom
- Iron Storm
3DO
- Cyberdillo
- Cyberia
PC
- Allied General
- Ripper
- CyberSpeed
- Descent II
- Hyper 3-D Pinball
- Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom
- Rayman
- Space Bucks
- Top Gun
- Whiplash
SNES
- Mario RPG (Super Mario RPG)
Arcade
- Funky Head Boxers
- NBA Hangtime
- Street Fighter Alpha II
- 19XX
32-bit gamer's guide (review score reference guide; two pages)
corresponding
Letters
Often controversial, usually intelligent, occasionally funny, and - every now and then - about EGM! (reader mail; two pages)
theorizing
The way games ought to be... Hi-octane game theory by Chris Crawford
The spotlight is a fickle lover. But of all the game designers who have basked in the glory of public praise, which ones are still around to reap the rewards today? (1.33 pages)
-
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