Next Generation Issue 34

PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE THIS ISSUE

• Sega Saturn
• Sega Dreamcast (Black Belt project news coverage)
• PC
• Neo Geo (Hyper Neo Geo 64 news coverage)
• Sony PlayStation
• Nintendo 64
• Macintosh
• M2 (never released)
• arcade

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(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. This issue, Steven Kent's recurring game history column - 'Retroview' - joins the news section.)

(standard edition: $5.99 USA, $6.99 Canada; CD edition: $7.99 USA?, $8.99 Canada?)

Cover Story: Battlezone
Activision is resurrecting a classic title. But more importantly, the company seems to have found the secret formula for combining action with strategy. Add an excellent storyline and the company may have the hit of '98 on its hands. (this TOC highlight refers to the six pages of Battlezone coverage found in this issue's Alphas section.)

The future of consoles
Top executives from the U.S. branches of Sony, Sega, and Nintendo sit down together to discuss the future of the console. ('The future of consoles - Sony, Nintendo and Sega talk back;' four pages; E3 roundtable discussion; Sony's Phil Harrison, Nintendo's George Harrison, Sega's Gretchen Eichinger; moderated by Next Generation's Neil West)

talking

Is 3Dfx here to stay?
With its outstanding Voodoo graphics chipset, 3Dfx captured the 3D accelerator market's early mindshare. But, given the competition in the 3D hardware space, does 3Dfx have what it takes to still be around in the next generation? (five page interview with Greg Ballard, Scott Sellers, and Gary Tarolli)

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.)

Power VR prepares Highlander
Details of new chipset, and its ties to Sega's new console, revealed.

Hyper Neo Geo 64
One of the biggest names in the arcades finally tries to get real.

PlayStation gets surrounded
3D sound is coming for Sony PlayStation.

Molyneux returns to EA
Despite an acrimonious relationship at Bullfrog, Peter Molyneux signs up again with EA. (1/2 page)

M2 just not good enough
Panasonic explains its decision to cancel M2 gaming console and predicts technological super age. (1/2 page)

Otaku calling
At JAFCON 6, traditional otaku merchandise took a backseat to the latest offerings from the game world.

Sega to enchance VF3
Enhanced version soon to hit arcades. (1/2 page)

(Recurring news features; one page each unless noted:)

Data Stream (sidebar; news related numbers and statistics)

Arcadia
The latest arcade and coin-op news. (misc. arcade news by Marcus Webb)

Joyriding
Gaming on the Internet. (online gaming news by Christian Svensson)

Movers and Shakers
The business news that affects the games you play. (misc. business news by Colin Campbell)

In the studio
Development news as it develops. (1/2 page; games in development; from Radical Entertainment, Namco, Adeline, Playmates, Psygnosis)

Retroview
Anecdotes from computer and videogaming's past. (videogame history by Steven Kent)

ng special

The great escape
Major talents, from programmers to presidents, are leaving established developers to start new ones. Is something amiss? (eight pages; including the following sidebars:)

• Bullfrog > Lionhead
• Microprose > Firaxis
• Origin > Digital Anvil
• The Ion brew
• Bullfrog > Mucky Foot
• Rare > Eighth Wonder
• The digital desperado

ng special

Finding companionship in a digital age
From the Tamagotchi to Norns, the latest in hip pets exist purely within silicon chips - most even fit in your pocket. Next Generation looks at the fad and wonders what it all means. (eight pages, including 1-page 'Man has a new virtual best friend' and 1-page 'Emotional Intelligence?' sections)

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).

(Previews with additional content on the accompanying Next Generation Disc are noted with an asterisk (*).)

• Battlezone (PC; six pages) *
• Rare (studio profile; two pages)
• Yoshi's Story 64 (N64) (the eventual Yoshi's Story)
• Zelda 64 (N64) (the eventual The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
• F-Zero 64 (N64) (the eventual F-Zero X)
• Quake 2 (PC)
• Kalisto (studio profile; three pages, including one-page 'Nightmare Creatures' section)
• I-War (PC; four pages) *
• Raider (PC; 1.66 pages) *
• Dead or Alive (PS,Sat; two pages)
• Alien vs. Predator (PC,PS,Sat)
• Fly by Wire (PS,PC; two pages)
• Battlespire (PC; two pages)
• Wing Commander Prophecy (PC)
• Jedi Knight (PC) *
• Sonic R (Sat)
• The Journeyman Project 3: Legacy of time (PC,Mac; two pages) *
• Forsaken: The Thrall of Chaos (PC)
• Mega Man Neo (PS; two pages) (the eventual Mega Man Legends)
• Monkey Hero (PS,PC; two pages) *
• Rapid Racer (PS; 0.66 pages)
• Power Boat Racing (PC,PS)
• Flesh Feast (PC)
• Road Rash 3D (PS,PC) *

ng special

The way games ought to be
But is it art? (by Neil West; two pages)

rating

Finals

(Next Generation reviews were usually 1/8th to 1/4th page in length, though this varied wildly and length was never pre-determined - 1/2 and one page reviews would see print on occasion. Higher rated and/or spotlighted games would usually receive more page real estate than lower rated.)

(Import reviews are noted with '(Japan)' below. Reviews also appearing on the accompanying Next Generation Disc are noted with an asterisk (*).)

Nintendo 64

• Goldeneye 007 *
• Yuke Yuke (Japan)

PlayStation

• Bravo Air Race *
• Darklight Conflict *
• Disney's Hercules *
• Felony 11-79 *
• Final Fantasy VII
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park
• Machine Hunter
• Raystorm
• Syndicate Wars

Saturn

• Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean
• World Series Baseball '98
• Sky Target *

PC

• Betrayal in Antara
• Kickoff '97
• Meat Puppet *
• Twinsen's Odyssey *
• 688(I) Hunter/Killer

Macintosh

• Circle of Blood
• Gundam 0079: The War for Earth

Arcade

• Rampage World Tour
• House of the Dead

corresponding

Letters
Every month, we love our readers unconditionally - they make us sound so good. (reader mail; two pages)

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ng Disc Contents

This month you'll visit LucasArts, Electronic Arts, and experience part two of an NG Disc exclusive interview with Nintendo of America's Howard Lincoln. Our extensive game movie coverage pushes Metal Gear Solid, Jedi Knight, Tomb Raider 2, Ghost in the Shell, and more than 50 movies to the forefront - all at double the size you'd see on the Internet.

previews
Tomb Raider 2, Duke Nukem 64, Metal Gear Solid, Ghost in the Shell, Madden '98, Last Bronx, Heavy Gear

talking
Nintendo of America's Howard Lincoln waxes eloquent in this NG Disc exclusive

finals
A searchable database of more than 1,200 NG reviews

pc
X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, Twinsen's Odyssey, Total Annihilation, Meat Puppet, Ragged Earth, NG screensaver, OddWorld screensaver

internet
America Online, Heat, The Palace Chat 2.3, Tic-Tac-Chat

mac
Sentinels of Ceth, Burning Rubber 1.2.3, Links LS, NG screensaver, OddWorld screensaver

special
Jedi Knight, Road Rash 3D, Hexen II, Raider, Star Wars Rebellion, I-War, Monkey Hero, Ghost in the Shell