ISSUE: 31Content
PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE THIS ISSUE
-
Sega Saturn
-
PC - PC CD-ROM - PC DVD-ROM
-
Windows 95
-
M2
-
Game.com
-
Sony PlayStation
-
Nintendo 64
-
Macintosh
-
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.)
(The 'Disc Edition' of this issue includes a CD featuring additional content.)
(With this issue, Next Generation receives a minor aesthetic revamp - primarily in the news and review sections. Japanese import reviews are now clearly noted, 'Toolbox' - a column dedicated to game development software - joins the roster of recurring news features, and "The way games ought to be...' returns after an extended hiatus - now helmed by Next Generation's own Neil West. Chris Charla is the new EIC.)
(This issue of Next Generation includes an inbound 24 page EB catalog, complete with front and back "covers." The catalog is labeled June/July 1997 Issue 2.)
(standard edition: $5.99 USA, $6.99 Canada; CD edition: $7.99 USA?, $8.99 Canada?)
talking
Games are going to take over the world!
Or so says Sid Meier in this month's exclusive interview. One of the top five designers in the world waxes eloquent on games that women will play, why his new company Firaxis has no marketing department, and, of course, his new games. (six 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.)
CGDC in Santa Clara: Geeks get down
Developers gather at the Santa Clara Convention Center. (two pages)
Cleaning time: Corporations slim down
with numerous companies spring-cleaning for the long haul, many are asking: is the Interactive gold rush over? (1.5 pages)
Game.com: Will it beat Game Boy?
Next Generation gets the first hands-on test drive of the new Tiger Electronics handheld. (1.5 pages)
Intel and Microsoft Enter the arcade fray (1/2 page)
(Recurring news features; one page each unless noted:)
Toolbox
The latest upgrade from Newtek, Lightwave 5.5 (game development product news)
Arcadia
All the latest arcade and coin-op news. (misc. arcade news by Marcus Webb)
Joyriding
Gaming on the Internet. (online gaming news by Christian Svensson)
In the studio (1/2 page; games in development; from Neverhood & Shiny, Sony San Diego, Midway, Sculptured Software, GT Interactive)
ng special
What makes a good game?
Next Generation pinpoints the six ingredients every good game must have. Plus, how do multiplayer games and single-player games differ in what makes them great? Everyone knows what games they like, but after this, everyone will know why as well. (9.5 pages, composed of the following sections:)
-
(intro)
-
Good game design is balanced
-
Good game design is creative
-
Good game design is focused
-
What Makes A Good Multiplayer Game?
-
Good game design is character
-
Good game design is tension
-
Good game design is energy
-
Why It All Matters
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).)
-
Blasto (PS; five pages)
-
World Championship Racing (M2; two pages)
-
Out of the Void (PCCD; two pages)
-
Nuclear Strike (PS,PCCD; two pages)
-
Armored Core (PS; two pages)
-
Bomberman 64 (N64)
-
Sonic Jam (Sat)
-
G-Police (PC,PS; two pages)
-
Youngblood (PS,PCCD; two pages)
-
Metal Gear Solid (PS; two pages)
-
SouthPeak (SouthPeak Interactive overview; three pages)
-
Heavy Gear (PCCD; two pages)
-
Adrenix (PCCD)
-
Take No Prisoners (PC; two pages)
-
Gex: Enter the Gecko (PS; two pages)
-
Populous 3 (Win95,PS)
-
Skullmonkeys (PS; two pages)
-
Tonic Trouble (N64,PCCD,DVD)
ng special
The way games ought to be
In search of the future of gameplay. (by Neil West; four pages; discussing the future of video games)
rating
Finals
(Beginning with issue #31, Next Generation began clearly identifying their occasional import review - such reviews are noted with '(Japan)' below. 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.)
Nintendo 64
-
Dark Rift
-
Human Grand Prix (Japan)
-
War Gods
-
Blast Corps
PlayStation
-
Ballblazer Champions
-
Battlestations
-
Grand Slam
-
Bushido Blade (Japan)
-
MechWarrior 2
-
Overblood
-
Triple Play '98
-
Tail of the Sun
-
Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom
-
Xevious 3D/G+
Saturn
-
Zap: Snowboarding Trix (Japan)
-
Scorcher
-
Gundam Gaiden II (Japan)
PC
-
Air Warrior II
-
Fable
-
Interstate '76
-
The Last Express
-
MDK
-
Magic: The Gathering
-
Pod
-
Moto Racer GP
-
Star Command Revolution
-
Test Drive Off Road
-
Theme Hospital
Macintosh
-
Damage Incorporated
Arcade
-
Dark Stalkers: Jedah's Damnation
-
Street Fighter III
-
Mace
-
Tekken 3
corresponding
Letters
If you've got fiber optics, you can send mail to us at the speed of light. Cool, huh? (reader mail; two pages)
---
ng disc contents
mac
Damage Incorporated, FA/18 Hornet 3.0, Pegasus Prime, NG Screensaver
internet
America Online 3.0, The Palace Chat, Engage Games Online
special
Armored Core, Heavy Gear, Nuclear Strike, Sonic World, Timujin: The Capricorn Collection
previews
Dark Rift, Human Grand Prix, Ball Blazer Champions, Gundam Gaiden II, Battlestations, Duke Nukem 3D, Metal Slug, Army Men, Dracula 64, Fighting Force, & more
pc
Air Warrior II, Interstate '76, Theme Hospital, Pandemonium, NG Screensaver
finals
A searchable database of Next Generations' "Finals"
talking
See and hear Glen Schofield talk about Gex: Enter the Gecko
PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE THIS ISSUE
- Sega Saturn
- PC - PC CD-ROM - PC DVD-ROM
- Windows 95
- M2
- Game.com
- Sony PlayStation
- Nintendo 64
- Macintosh
- 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.)
(The 'Disc Edition' of this issue includes a CD featuring additional content.)
(With this issue, Next Generation receives a minor aesthetic revamp - primarily in the news and review sections. Japanese import reviews are now clearly noted, 'Toolbox' - a column dedicated to game development software - joins the roster of recurring news features, and "The way games ought to be...' returns after an extended hiatus - now helmed by Next Generation's own Neil West. Chris Charla is the new EIC.)
(This issue of Next Generation includes an inbound 24 page EB catalog, complete with front and back "covers." The catalog is labeled June/July 1997 Issue 2.)
(standard edition: $5.99 USA, $6.99 Canada; CD edition: $7.99 USA?, $8.99 Canada?)
talking
Games are going to take over the world!
Or so says Sid Meier in this month's exclusive interview. One of the top five designers in the world waxes eloquent on games that women will play, why his new company Firaxis has no marketing department, and, of course, his new games. (six 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.)
CGDC in Santa Clara: Geeks get down
Developers gather at the Santa Clara Convention Center. (two pages)
Cleaning time: Corporations slim down
with numerous companies spring-cleaning for the long haul, many are asking: is the Interactive gold rush over? (1.5 pages)
Game.com: Will it beat Game Boy?
Next Generation gets the first hands-on test drive of the new Tiger Electronics handheld. (1.5 pages)
Intel and Microsoft Enter the arcade fray (1/2 page)
(Recurring news features; one page each unless noted:)
Toolbox
The latest upgrade from Newtek, Lightwave 5.5 (game development product news)
Arcadia
All the latest arcade and coin-op news. (misc. arcade news by Marcus Webb)
Joyriding
Gaming on the Internet. (online gaming news by Christian Svensson)
In the studio (1/2 page; games in development; from Neverhood & Shiny, Sony San Diego, Midway, Sculptured Software, GT Interactive)
ng special
What makes a good game?
Next Generation pinpoints the six ingredients every good game must have. Plus, how do multiplayer games and single-player games differ in what makes them great? Everyone knows what games they like, but after this, everyone will know why as well. (9.5 pages, composed of the following sections:)
- (intro)
- Good game design is balanced
- Good game design is creative
- Good game design is focused
- What Makes A Good Multiplayer Game?
- Good game design is character
- Good game design is tension
- Good game design is energy
- Why It All Matters
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).)
- Blasto (PS; five pages)
- World Championship Racing (M2; two pages)
- Out of the Void (PCCD; two pages)
- Nuclear Strike (PS,PCCD; two pages)
- Armored Core (PS; two pages)
- Bomberman 64 (N64)
- Sonic Jam (Sat)
- G-Police (PC,PS; two pages)
- Youngblood (PS,PCCD; two pages)
- Metal Gear Solid (PS; two pages)
- SouthPeak (SouthPeak Interactive overview; three pages)
- Heavy Gear (PCCD; two pages)
- Adrenix (PCCD)
- Take No Prisoners (PC; two pages)
- Gex: Enter the Gecko (PS; two pages)
- Populous 3 (Win95,PS)
- Skullmonkeys (PS; two pages)
- Tonic Trouble (N64,PCCD,DVD)
ng special
The way games ought to be
In search of the future of gameplay. (by Neil West; four pages; discussing the future of video games)
rating
Finals
(Beginning with issue #31, Next Generation began clearly identifying their occasional import review - such reviews are noted with '(Japan)' below. 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.)
Nintendo 64
- Dark Rift
- Human Grand Prix (Japan)
- War Gods
- Blast Corps
PlayStation
- Ballblazer Champions
- Battlestations
- Grand Slam
- Bushido Blade (Japan)
- MechWarrior 2
- Overblood
- Triple Play '98
- Tail of the Sun
- Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom
- Xevious 3D/G+
Saturn
- Zap: Snowboarding Trix (Japan)
- Scorcher
- Gundam Gaiden II (Japan)
PC
- Air Warrior II
- Fable
- Interstate '76
- The Last Express
- MDK
- Magic: The Gathering
- Pod
- Moto Racer GP
- Star Command Revolution
- Test Drive Off Road
- Theme Hospital
Macintosh
- Damage Incorporated
Arcade
- Dark Stalkers: Jedah's Damnation
- Street Fighter III
- Mace
- Tekken 3
corresponding
Letters
If you've got fiber optics, you can send mail to us at the speed of light. Cool, huh? (reader mail; two pages)
---
ng disc contents
mac
Damage Incorporated, FA/18 Hornet 3.0, Pegasus Prime, NG Screensaver
internet
America Online 3.0, The Palace Chat, Engage Games Online
special
Armored Core, Heavy Gear, Nuclear Strike, Sonic World, Timujin: The Capricorn Collection
previews
Dark Rift, Human Grand Prix, Ball Blazer Champions, Gundam Gaiden II, Battlestations, Duke Nukem 3D, Metal Slug, Army Men, Dracula 64, Fighting Force, & more
pc
Air Warrior II, Interstate '76, Theme Hospital, Pandemonium, NG Screensaver
finals
A searchable database of Next Generations' "Finals"
talking
See and hear Glen Schofield talk about Gex: Enter the Gecko
-
1
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